Comparison of Oral Hygiene Status and Knowledge before and after Health Education among School going Children

ABSTRACT

Introduction: A healthy oral cavity aids a subject inperforming their routine body functions, which in turn helpsin providing adequate nutrition to the body. For the occurrenceof periodontal pathologies and dental caries, one of themajor risk factors is poor oral hygiene. The importance oforal hygiene cannot be detached from the general context ofadolescence. Adolescence has the capability of independentlyattaining adequate oral hygiene but self-awareness is missingin adolescence.Material and methods: The present cross-sectionalstudy was conducted among 12 to 15 years old 199 schoolchildren of Lucknow semi-urban area using a self-structuredquestionnaire. List of schools in the periphery of Lucknowwas searched and 8 schools were chosen using simplerandom technique (2 from every direction). Selected subjectswere analyzed for basic oral health knowledge, attitude,and practices of oral hygiene using the self-structuredquestionnaire. The oral hygiene status was evaluated usingsimplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Oral prophylaxiswas performed and oral health education was given to all thesubjects, using a power point presentation, and tooth brushingmodel. All subjects were reassessed after 4 weeks. The valueswere compared.Results: 199 students were present on both the day ofexamination. All the subjects were taken from 6th and 7thstandard falling into the age range of 12 to 15 years. Significantimprovement in OHI-S scores (before-2.62, After – 1.11) wasobserved in this study. Difference in the number of subjectsgiving correct answer at baseline and second visit was alsosignificant showing improvement in their knowledge andpractice of oral hygiene.Conclusion: School based oral health education program is acost effective strategy which can be implemented using veryless infrastructure and personnel. This study also showed thatoral health education program can improve the knowledge,attitude and practice regarding oral hygiene maintenance.Thus this kind of programs should be conducted regularly inschools.