scholarly journals Oral Hygiene Awareness and Practices among a Sample of Primary School Children in Rural Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Md. Al-Amin Bhuiyan ◽  
Humayra Binte Anwar ◽  
Rezwana Binte Anwar ◽  
Mir Nowazesh Ali ◽  
Priyanka Agrawal

Inadequate oral health knowledge and awareness is more likely to cause oral diseases among all age groups, including children. Reports about the oral health awareness and oral hygiene practices of children in Bangladesh are insufficient. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the oral health awareness and practices of junior school children in Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur District, Bangladesh. The study covered 150 children aged 5 to 12 years of age from three primary schools. The study reveals that the students have limited awareness about oral health and poor knowledge of oral hygiene habits. Oral health awareness and hygiene practices amongst the school going children was found to be very poor and create a much-needed niche for implementing school-based oral health awareness and education projects/programs.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
F. Mlenga ◽  
E. G. Mumghamba

Aim. To determine oral hygiene practices, knowledge, and experience of dental caries and gingival problems among urban and rural primary schoolchildren in Lilongwe District, Malawi. Methodology. This was an analytical and quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. Four urban and four rural primary schools were conveniently sampled. Pupils aged 11–14 years (n = 409) were recruited using self-administered structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS program v20.0. Results. Out of 409 pupils, most of them had knowledge that dental caries is caused by consumption of sugary foodstuffs (91.4%), toothache is a symptom of dental caries (77.6%), gingivitis is caused by ineffective tooth brushing (92.7%), and gingival bleeding is a sign of gingivitis (85.3%). Most pupils experienced toothache (30.8%); many of them had parents with secondary education and above (35.0%) compared to those with primary education (23.5%). 24.4% experienced gingival bleeding with higher percentages from urban (30.1%) than rural (18.5%) schools. Plastic toothbrush users (95%) overshadowed chewing stick users (24.9%). The use of chewing stick was significantly higher in rural (49%) than in urban (1.9%) schools. Likewise, tooth brushing before bed was significantly higher in rural (33%) than in urban (17.2%) pupils. The use of toothpaste during tooth brushing was significantly higher among urban (91.9%) than among rural (64%) pupils. The prevalence of tongue cleaning was 70.2%, and the differences were significantly higher among pupils who had parents with secondary and higher education in urban schools and among pupils aged 11–12 years in comparison with their counterparts. Conclusions. Most pupils reported cleaning their teeth regularly, mostly using plastic toothbrush rather than chewing stick, using toothpaste, and having adequate knowledge about dental caries and gingival disease, and a quarter of them had suffered from these diseases with evidence of rural-urban disparities. Integration of oral health in school health promotion program and further research on its impact on oral health status are recommended.


2009 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranka Knezevic ◽  
Ivana Skrobic ◽  
Branka Celic ◽  
Nina Zubovic

Introduction. Dental caries and periodontal disease are the most frequent oral diseases and therefore determine oral health condition. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of the preventive programme for improving oral health in primary school children from first to fourth grade in Banjaluka. Material and methods.. Triennial study started in 2005 and included 911 second grade and 1491 fourth grade pupils in primary schools in Banjaluka. The study was completed in 2008. In the school year of 2007/08, 885 fourth grade pupils (examined in 2005. as second grade pupils) who were comprised by prevention program were reexamined. Dental check-ups were conducted by dentists on daylight using dental mirror and dental probe. Caries prevalence was analyzed using the DMFT index while oral hygiene was assessed using oral hygiene index (OHI). Results. The structure of DMFT among the second grade pupils (in the school year 2005/06) showed that the dominant component of DMFT was for healthy teeth (81%), followed by decayed (14%) and filled teeth (5%). The average value of OHI was 1.47 for this group of pupils. The structure of DMFT in the fourth grade pupils (in the year 2005/06) showed that the dominant component of DMFT was also for healthy teeth (75%). The next were decayed (18%) and filled teeth (7%). The average value of OHI was 1.60. Data analyses in the school year 2007/08 from the fourth grade pupils (who were second grade pupils during the school year 2005/06) and were comprised by preventive programme, showed that DMFT had the dominant component of healthy teeth (81%) followed by 10% of decayed teeth and 8% of filled teeth. Extracted teeth were only 1%. OHI was 0.95. Conclusion. The preventive programme applied in primary schools in Banjaluka since 2005. decreased the number of oral diseases and improved oral hygiene among the children who participated in this program.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Y. AL Khafaji ◽  
Nadia A Al Rawi

Background: Oral health and nutrition are in interdependent relationship that good nutritional health enhancing good oral health. Nutrition can affect the development and integrity of oral cavity and the progression of oral disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of the gingival health condition in relation to the nutritional status, among 10 years old primary school children in urban and rural area in Al-Hillah city. Material and method: Eight hundred ninety one (891) students, aged10 years old, selected randomly from different primary schools, in urban and rural area in Al-Hillah city, were included in this study. Oral examination including of plaque index assessment, which was done according to the criteria by Silness and Loe, in 1964, gingival health conditions was determined according to Loe and Silness, 1963. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI), following the criteria of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth chart (CDC). Statistical analysis was done using Kruskal Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test and ANOVA, p-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: This study showed that the majority of the sample was found to be with normal gingival health condition. No significant difference was observed between the gingival index in relation to gender, or residence also, no significant result was found, between plaque and gingival index in relation to the nutritional status. Conclusion: The majority of the sample with normal gingiva however the nutritional status had no significant effect on gingival health condition while the urbanization had an effect on oral hygiene


2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-28
Author(s):  
Svjetlana Janković ◽  
Bojana Davidović ◽  
Igor Radović ◽  
Vladimirka Ikonić ◽  
Ivana Dmitruk-Miljević

Summary Introduction Oral diseases during pregnancy are an important reason for enhanced dental care of this vulnerable population. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of oral health awareness among pregnant women and examine their oral hygiene habits, attitudes and behaviors in relation to the professional qualification. Material and methods The study was conducted in Foča, East Sarajevo, Bijeljina and Pale (Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina). A total of 198 respondents voluntarily filled an anonymous survey, specially created for this research. Results In addition to toothbrush and toothpaste, 39.8% of pregnant women did not use any additional oral hygiene resources. When brushing their teeth, 60.1% of pregnant women had bleeding gums. Also, 54.1% of pregnant women visited dentist, while 34.3% did not. Obstetrician did not advise 69.7% of respondents that the should visit dentist during pregnancy. Furthermore, 80.8% of pregnant women thought that they were more susceptible to pregnancy caries, and 29.6% of them thought that caries is disease that cannot be prevented. Respondents with university education understood that minerals from the mother’s teeth were not lost during pregnancy, which was statistically significant compared to pregnant women with secondary education. Conclusion The level of oral health awareness of pregnant women is low. It is important that all women perform regular dental examination during pregnancy, as they will receive useful information from their dentist how to prevent oral diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-35
Author(s):  
Dr. H. Lalrintluanga ◽  
Dr Nancy Srivastava ◽  
Dr. Arpita Gur ◽  
Dr. Nidhi Singh ◽  
Dr. Neetha Bhargava

The WHO 2010 reported connection between oral wellbeing and general wellbeing, with common risk factors including poor diet, tobacco use and alcohol consumption. People who suffer from general health problems (diabetes, HIV) are more likelihood to have oral diseases (periodontal diseases) that, in turn, further complicate their overall health.Thus, oral health is an integral part of general wellbeing . One of the many barriers to quality oral healthcare includes a lack of attention to oral health by non-dental health care professionals (e.g., nurses, pharmacists). Nurses, being the primary health care provider to the patients, play an important role in health sector. Aside from dental professional, nurses are an integral part in health promotion and preventive information dissemination, therefore it is important that oral health knowledge should be good to decrease poor oral health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess oral health knowledge, attitude and oral hygiene practices among nursing student of Apollo School of Nursing , Mizoram.A Questionnaire study was conducted among 150 students of Apollo School of Nursing Mizoram. A self administered structured questionnaire containing oral hygiene knowledge and awareness, attitude and oral hygiene practices questions was distributed . Their response were analyzed and their knowledge and awareness, attitude and oral hygiene practice level(KAP) were evaluated. Statistical Analysis was done by calculating the mean of the KAP level (%) . The present study showed good oral hygiene practices and fair knowledge of oral health among nursing students of Apollo School of Nursing Mizoram


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail N. Pangani ◽  
Festus K. Kiplamai ◽  
Jane W. Kamau ◽  
Vincent O. Onywera

Background. The understanding of obesity as a growing health problem in Africa and Tanzania in particular is hampered by lack of data as well as sociocultural beliefs in which overweight and obesity are revered. This study sought to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school children aged 8–13 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Method. A cross-sectional analytical research design was used to study overweight and obesity in primary schools in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The target population was 150,000 children aged 8–13 years. Stratified random sampling was used to select 1781 children. Weight and height were taken and WHO standards for children were used to determine weight status.Results. Findings showed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15.9% and 6.7%, respectively (N=1781). However, 6.2% of the children were underweight. There were significant differences in mean BMI between children in private and public schools (p=0.021), between male and female (p<0.001), and across age groups of 8–10 and 11–13 years (p<0.001).Conclusion. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school children is significant and requires management and prevention strategies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu Kyu Swe ◽  
Aung Kyaw Soe ◽  
Saw Htun Aung ◽  
Htin Zaw Soe

Abstract Background: Oral diseases are common and widespread around the world. The most common oral diseases are preventable and early onset is reversible. Myanmar faces many challenges in rendering oral health services because about 70 percent of the total population resides in rural areas. These relate to the availability and accessibility of oral health services. Therefore, oral health education is one key element to prevent oral diseases and to promote oral health.Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out at Basic Education Middle Schools in rural areas of Magway Township to study the effectiveness of oral health education on knowledge and behavior of eight to ten-year-old school children. A total of 220 school children, 110 from the intervention school, and 110 from the control school participated in this study from 2015 to 2017. Data were collected before and after intervention in the two groups by using a self-administered questionnaire. Tooth brushing method data were collected by direct observation with a checklist. Oral health education was provided at eight weekly intervals for one year. At one and a half years, third-time data collection was done on the intervention group to assess retention. Chi-square test, two samples t-test, one way repeated measure ANOVA were used for data analysis. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Public Health,Yangon, Myanmar.Results: There were significant differences between the two groups in oral health knowledge (p<0.05) except one and also in behavior (p<0.001) after the intervention. A positive effect of the intervention was found in the intervention group. The intervention had a significant effect on the sustainability of the correct knowledge and behavior of the intervention group although the education session was stopped for six months (p<0.001). Their mean knowledge and behavioral scores at three different points got at these times were (2.45±1.12 and1.56±0.90) at baseline, (3.79±1.12 and 3.60±1.21) at one year after education, and (4.07±0.98 and 3.24±1.31) at six months after cessation of education, respectively. Conclusions: The repeated oral health education was effective to promote and sustain oral health knowledge and behavior.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document