[Report on oral health literacy of children and adolescents in Nagqu, Xizang].

Abstract

Objective: To understand the oral health literacy of children and adolescents in Nagqu City, and to evaluate the effect of a single online digital integrated media science popularization course on improving oral health literacy.

Methods: A cluster sampling method was employed in which all students aged 9-15 years in the Seni District of Naqu City, Xizang Autonomous Region, 406 students were surveyed class-by-class using a paper questionnaire. After baseline data collection, the students received a single remote digital-multimedia oral-health education lesson; a follow-up questionnaire was administered one week later to evaluate whether the online course improved oral-health literacy. The instrument collected demographic information, basic oral-health knowledge, beliefs, self-care practices, and dental-service utilization. Data were analyzed with R 4.4.1 and SPSS 27.0.

Results: The awareness rate of oral health knowledge among the children and adolescents in Xizang was less than 50%. More than half of the adolescents consumed high-sugar foods, such as desserts and sugary beverages daily. Only 15.98% of the adolescents brushed their teeth twice or more daily, 7.71% used dental floss daily before the course, and the usage rate of fluoride toothpaste was 45.45%. Oral health issues among the children and adolescents in Xizang severely impacted their daily lives, particularly in eating, pronunciation, and brushing. A single oral health education session showed no significant impact on the awareness rate or the conversion of knowledge into behavior.

Conclusion: The awareness rate of oral health knowledge among the children and adolescents in Xizang is lower than the national average a decade ago, and a significant portion has yet to develop good personal oral hygiene habits. Targeted measures are needed to improve oral health awareness among the children and adolescents in Xizang. These may include utilizing interactive digital education tools and emphasizing oral disease prevention to enhance both the awareness rate of oral health knowledge and the conversion of knowledge into behavior.