Oral Hygiene Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among Secondary School Students in Kiryandongo Town Council, Kiryandongo District

ABSTRACT

Introduction 

Oral disease which ultimately depends on oral hygiene is considered as an important public health problem worldwide because of its high prevalence and direct social effects. Moreover, oral health is an indicator of general health and wellbeing. A healthy mouth means that a person can speak, eat and socialise without complaining of any active disease (Kay and Locker, 1998; Humagain, 2011). 

Objectives 

To evaluate the oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices among secondary school students in Kiryandongo Town council, Kiryandongo district. 

Methods 

A cross–sectional school-based study was conducted from November 2018 to February 2019 Multi-stage random sampling was used. Five secondary schools within Kiryandongo town council were sampled randomly from each of which 60 students were selected using cluster and systematic random sampling techniques. Data was collected from the sampled 300 students using a self administered questionnaire and data was analysed using Microsoft excel program and presented in percentage frequency distribution tables. 

Results 

The majority of the respondents, 228(76.0%) were aged 15-19 year with a mean age of 16.6 years. Most students had insufficient knowledge about oral hygiene while attitude towards oral hygiene was mixed with the majority of the respondents, didn’t care about their teeth as much as they did for other parts of the body. 

Conclusions/Recommendation 

The findings of this study indicate that the mean knowledge score of the school students was poor. A health education programme to be integrated within the school curriculum emphasizing oral hygiene.

Table of Contents

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii

APPROVAL ..................................................................................................................................iii

DEDICATION............................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENT................................................................................................................. v

List of tables................................................................................................................................... ix

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS......................................................................................................... x

DEFITION OF TERMS................................................................................................................. xi

ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................. xii

CHAPTER ONE............................................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Introduction. .......................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background to the study........................................................................................................ 1

1.2 Statement of the problem. ..................................................................................................... 3

1.3 Study objectives. ................................................................................................................... 3

1.3.1. General objectives. ........................................................................................................... 3

1.3.2 Specific objectives............................................................................................................. 3

1.4 Research questions. ............................................................................................................... 3

1.5 Study justification. ................................................................................................................ 4

1.6 Scope of the study. ................................................................................................................ 4

1.6.1 Geographical scope ........................................................................................................... 4

1.6.3 Time................................................................................................................................... 4

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................ 5

LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................... 5

2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 Epidemiology of dental caries............................................................................................... 5

2.2 Prevalence of dental caries.................................................................................................... 5

2.3 Knowledge, attitude and practices on oral hygiene............................................................... 6

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................................ 8

METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................... 8

3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 8

3.1 Study design .......................................................................................................................... 8

3.2 Study area.............................................................................................................................. 8

3.4 Sample size determination .................................................................................................... 8

3.5 Sampling technique ............................................................................................................... 9

3.6 Piloting .................................................................................................................................. 9

3.7 Quality control of the data..................................................................................................... 9

3.8 Data collection method and tools.......................................................................................... 9

3.9 Data collection procedure.................................................................................................... 10

3.10 Data analysis and presentation .......................................................................................... 10

3.11 Ethical consideration......................................................................................................... 10

CHAPTER FOUR......................................................................................................................... 11

STUDY RESULTS....................................................................................................................... 11

4.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 11

4.1 Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents............................................................. 11

4.2 Knowledge about oral hygiene............................................................................................ 11

4.3 Attitude of secondary school students towards oral health care. ........................................ 13

4.4 Oral hygiene practices of secondary school students.......................................................... 14

CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 15

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................ 15

5.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 15

5.1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 15

5.1 Discussion ........................................................................................................................... 15

5.1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 15

5.1.2 Demographic characteristics of the respondents.......................................................... 15

5.1.3 Knowledge about oral health........................................................................................ 15

5.1.3 Attitude towards oral hygiene....................................................................................... 16

5.1.4 Oral hygiene practices.................................................................................................. 16

5.2 Conclusions......................................................................................................................... 17

5.2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 17

5.2.2 Knowledge about oral hygiene ..................................................................................... 17

5.2.3 Attitude towards Oral Hygiene..................................................................................... 17

5.2.3 Oral hygiene practices.................................................................................................. 17

5.3 Recommendations............................................................................................................... 18

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 19

APPENDIX I: CONSENT FORM............................................................................................ 21

APPENDIX II: QUESTIONARE ............................................................................................. 22

APPENDIX III: MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING KIRYANDONGO DISTRICT................. 25

APPENDIX III: INTRODUCTORY LETTER ............................................................................ 26