An insight regarding oral hygiene among 10–15-year-old schoolchildren in the rural area of Jaipur district – A questionnaire study

Abstract

Background: Good oral health is a barometer of overall health which empowers an individual to eat, speak, and socialize without active disease, discomfort, or embarrassment, which contributes to general quality of life. Schools can provide a supportive environment for promoting oral health. Children are the ideal target group for early intervention because healthy behaviors and lifestyles developed at a young age are more sustainable. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among school-going children 10–15 years aged in rural areas of Jaipur district. Materials and Methods: A study sample of schoolchildren aged between 10 and 15 years old in Bhanpur rural area of Jaipur district were examined to assess oral sanitation awareness. Data on oral hygiene were collected by a survey form, which were prepared with the help of a self-administered structured questionnaire translated into Hindi language. The questionnaire was calibrated before data collection and inter-examiner agreement during calibration was measured using kappa statistic (K = 0.86). All participants were requested to complete 18 close-ended questionnaires. The observation was reviewed and analyzed. Results: Among the total 275 children, 41% (n = 113) boys and 57.8% (n = 159) girls, of age between 10 and 15 years with a mean years of age is 13 years. Fifty-six percentage knew that they should brush their teeth once daily. About 46.5% of subjects were aware that limiting sweet snacks from diet will prevent tooth decay. Conclusion: Results of the study proved that KAP among schoolchildren is poor and needs to be improved.