Oral health attitudes, knowledge, and behavior amongst high and low socioeconomic school going children in Lahore, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and behavior of low and high socioeconomic school going children and the type of food available and consumed at school premises, as well as the dental health care facilities available at schools. It was a multi-centric study which analysed school going children [n=281] from grade 1 to grade 10 who attended private schools of both high and low income groups in Lahore, Pakistan. A questionnaire adapted from Peterson and Stenberg et al designed to assess children's behavior, knowledge and perception of their oral health and dental treatment along with the availability of healthy food in the school was used. Results showed that 54% of HSES students bought food from cafeteria as compared to only 11% of LSES School. 41% LSES children's parents did not observe their child while brushing. 54% of LSES and 41% of HSES visited the dentist only in pain. 39% of HSES but only 12%of LSES went for regular checkups. Reason for not visiting the dentist among HSES students was fear of drilling [40.3%] and 9.3% in LSES. It was concluded that there was a dire need of health education programs especially for low socio economic school children. This study provides baseline information about children's knowledge, their attitudes and behavior towards eating habits, maintaining oral hygiene, seeking dental treatment of low socio economic and high socio economic school children in Lahore