ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to determine the application of health belief model in oral health education for 12-year-old children and its effect on oral health behaviors and indexes. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was carried out on twelve-year-old girl students (n-291) in the first grade of secondary school, in the central district of Tehran, Iran. Research sample was selected by a multistage cluster sampling. The data was obtained by using a valid reliable questionnaire for measuring the perceptions, a checklist for observing the quality of brushing and dental flossing and health files and clinical observation. First, a descriptive study was applied to individual perceptions, oral behaviors, Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth Index (DMFTI). Then an educational planning based on the results and Health Belief Model (HBM) was applied. The procedure was repeated after six months. RESULTS: After education, based on HBM, all the oral health perceptions increased (P<.05). Correct brushing and flossing are influenced by increased perceptions. A low correlation between the reduction of DMFTI and increased perceived severity and increased perceived barriers are found (r= -0.28, r = 0.43 respectively). In addition, there was a limited correlation between OHI and increased perceived benefits (r = -0.26). CONCLUSION: Using health belief model in oral health education for increasing the likelihood of taking preventive oral health behaviors is applicable.
ABSTRACT
Limited information is available concerning the role of measles-specific cell mediated immunity as a correlate of long-term protection from measles infection. Although serological responses are determined in epidemiological studies and high antibody titer is a good indicator of protection, the role of Cell-Mediated Immunity (CMI) has to be defined more clearly. In this study, Lymphocyte Proliferation (LP) and Viral Neutralization Test (VNT) were used in order to measure measles-specific cellular and humoral immune responses of 100 high school students in Tehran. From total number of subjects studied, 33 were girls and 67 were boys and all were in good health. Of these, 77 had protective neutralizing measles antibody titers and 23 did not have such titer. The results of LP showed that 89 subjects had protective cellular immune responses and 11 did not. A quantitative relationship between humoral and cellular immune responses was not observed. These findings suggest that measles-specific protective CMI is measurable for longer time in comparison to humoral immunity. These data suggest that LP responses may be better sustained than antibody titers in some children.
