Year : 2022

Volume : Volume 13

Issue : Issue 2

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Mohammad Abdulsadik
abdul.sadik74@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: The present study was done to assess the prevalence of oral hygiene behavior and its determinants among school going children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1692 school children to evaluate their oral hygiene behavior and determinant factors. Factors associated with oral hygiene behavior were identified using linear regression. Prior collection of sociodemographic
information was done in addition to information on oral health behavior by personal interview. Results: A total of 1628 students participated in the study. Mean age was 17 (standard deviation ± 1.4) and the mean OHB was 7.69 ± 3.23. Only 9.1%, 21.3%, and 5.5% were brushing their teeth at least twice a day, cleaning their tongue, and flossing at least once a day, respectively. Fathers’ educational status (able to read and write [β: 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46,3.44], completed secondary school [β: 1.64, 95% CI: 0.09, 3.26], and diploma and higher [β: 1.87, 95% CI: 0.36, 3.38], oral hygiene knowledge [β: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.38]), and attitude toward OHB (β: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.17) were significant factors associated with students OHB. Conclusion: Oral hygiene behavior level among preparatory school students was very low. Father’s educational status,students’ oral hygiene knowledge, and attitude were found to be significant factors affecting students oralhygiene behavior. These results suggest that emphasis should be given to scientific monitoring, effective implementation and evaluation ofschool-based oral health promotion and preventive programs to increase the dental awareness and oral hygiene practices.
 Keywords: Behavior, Brushing, Hygiene, Oral, Students