ORAL DISEASES STATUS AND KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICE FOR ORAL CARE OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL’S PUPILS IN THE CITY AND MOUNTAIN OF THUA THIEN-HUE PROVINCE
Background: Oral disease is now the major public health problems. There is few research on the status of dental caries and its relationship to the knowledge and practice of oral hygiene practices among schoolchildren. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the current status of oral diseases; (2) find out knowledge and practice of oral care and a number of factors related to dental caries. Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-section study what was carried out on 1406 schoolchildren aged 7-11-year- olds attending Grade 1–5 at two primary schools of the Hue city and four primary schools of mountain. Clinical examination and interview questions of knowledge and practice to dental care for all subjects. Results: Dental caries prevalence was 77.6%, the mean dmft/DMFT score was 4.22/1.51; gingivitis, tarta, dental plaque were 33.2%, 31.2%, 55.5% respectively. The questionnaires about oral hygiene, 26.5% of children had not good knowledge, 67.6% had not good practice. Dental caries related with practicing daily oral hygiene (OR = 2.21, p <0.01) and with the knowledge of dental care (OR = 1.44, p <0.05). There is the relationship between knowledge and practice not yet good (OR = 5.25, p <0.01). Conclusions: Oral diseases, particularly dental caries prevalence is still high in primary pupils. It’s necessary for education on knowledge and practice of oral disease prevention for primary pupils. Keywords: Oral disease, primary pupils, oral health KP