Abstract
BACKGROUND: Assessment of the oral health is very important to organize the community based
programs which is a key of promoting the health system and this includes assessment of knowledge,
attitude and practice of oral hygiene. Different results of Researches have proved that Oral health
practices are poor in Pakistan. Specially, majority of population are school going children, who is
suffering from dental caries and periodontal diseases. So according to need of health development in
Pakistan, Oral hygiene KAP Assessment is a basic step for policy evolution.
AIM: To assess the Oral hygiene knowledge, attitude and practice among school children aged 12-14
years, students of class 6 to 7 group at Ali Raza Abad, Lahore.
METHOD: A cross sectional community based survey was conducted at Ali Raza Abad, Lahore.
Convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data from respondents. Study conducted in
November-December 2015. Closed ended questionnaire was used. Data was gathered from school
children aged 12-14 years, students of class 6 to 7 group living at community Ali Raza Abad Lahore.
SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data and descriptive statistics and chi- square was applied.
Statistical difference present if p value is less than 0.05.
RESULTS: Out of total children, 64% children did not have knowledge about fluoride, statistical
difference found between both genders with p value 0.007 which shows female students are more
knowledgeable. 50% of children do not visit the dentists, 26% visited during pain. 67% said that regular
visit to the dentists is necessary. Reason behind not visiting the dentists are high cost treatment 14%,
no clinic nearby 28%, no time 58%. 98% children brush their teeth daily. It was seen that 54% subjects
brush their teeth once a day. No statistical difference found between both genders related to oral
hygiene attitude and practices.
CONCLUSION: It is concluded that students have adequate knowledge about dental hygiene but they do
not know the use of fluoride and its function. Female students are more knowledgeable as compared to
the male students. Practices are not fair enough has mostly brushed less than two minutes. There is a
great need of providing dental services in the schools located in the rural areas because majority did not
visit the doctors due to time shortage.
Chanda Jabeen , Gulshan Umbreen. (2017) Oral Hygiene: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among School Children, Lahore, Journal of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Volume-16, Issue-3.
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