Oral health related knowledge, attitude, and practice among school children of Jyamrung, Nepal

Abstract

Oral diseases are common in school children of underprivileged region of developing countries. The community-based oral health promotion approach, using schools as a platform, is a way to tackle the oral health problems of community with limited human and financial resources. A base-line study was conducted in a school of Jyamrung so as to evaluate oral health related knowledge, attitude and practices among schoolchildren, based on which an oral health promotion program will be developed for the school. A descriptive study was conducted among all the students of the school. Oral heath related information of the students was collected using DMFT (Decayed Missing Filled Teeth) index and a questionnaire. A total of 88 children with age ranging from 6 to 16 years took part in the study. A total of 61% of the children had dental caries. Mean DMFT of the schoolchildren was 1.78 (SD 2.04). The Filled component score was 0. Children with the experience of tooth pain the previous year was 36.5% for 6-11 years of age, and 58.3% for 12-16 years of age. None of them had received any form of treatment following the pain. Only 4 children have dental consultation. Almost 92% of them have never received oral health education in their school. A comprehensive oral health care program is required to address the present oral health needs of the schoolchildren.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmc.v4i3.11930

Journal of Chitwan Medical College 2014; 4(3): 1-4