Oral health-related KAP among 11- to 12-year-old school children in a government-aided missionary school of Bangalore city

• Main Authors: Harikiran A, Pallavi S, Hariprakash Sapna, Ashutosh, Nagesh K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2008-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dental Research
• Subjects: Attitude; oral health knowledge; practice
• Online Access: http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2008;volume=19;issue=3;spage=236;epage=242;aulast=Harikiran
• ISSN: 0970-9290; 1998-3603

<b>Background:</b> To organize community-oriented oral health promotion programs systematic analysis of the oral health situation would be needed, including information on oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). <b> Aim:</b> The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward oral health among 11 to 12-year-old school children in a government-aided missionary school of Bangalore city. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> The study group comprised of 212 children (Male: 108; Female; 104) who were in the age group of 11-12 years studying in a government-aided missionary school of Bangalore city. Data on oral health KAP were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical significance was determined by Chi-square test. <b> Results:</b> This survey found that only 38.5&#x0025; of the children brush their teeth two or more times a day. Pain and discomfort from teeth (35.1&#x0025;) were common while dental visits were infrequent. Fear of the dentist was the main cause of irregular visit in 46.1&#x0025; of study participants. High proportion of study participants reported having hidden sugar at least once a day: soft drinks (32.1&#x0025;), milk with sugar (65.9&#x0025;), and tea with sugar (56.1&#x0025;). It was found that 5.4&#x0025; and 3.9&#x0025; of study participants smoke and chew tobacco, respectively. <b> Conclusion:</b> Results of this study suggest that oral health KAP of study participants are poor and needs to be improved. Systematic community-oriented oral health promotion programs are needed to improve oral health KAP of school children.