Knowledge and behaviour related to oral health among secondary school students in Khartoum Province, Sudan

Abstract

Objective: This study explores secondary school students in the Khartoum Province, Sudan, with respect to frequency and quality of use and the socio-demographic distribution of oral health knowledge and behaviour. Methods: Six secondary schools were selected at random and 10% of the students enrolled in each class (3 grades) were randomly selected to participate. A total of 400 students (207 boys) (mean age 15.3 years) were selected, of which 396 completed questionnaires at school. Results: 44.3% boys and 42.5% girls scored highly on knowledge of caries. The corresponding rates regarding knowledge of gingivitis were 39.2% and 47.0%, respectively. Tooth brushing and use of miswak ≥2 times a day was confirmed by 67.2% boys and 75.5% girls and by 64.3% boys and 52% girls, respectively. Living in a town, having received oral health information and having a mother of medium education were associated with higher odds for being knowledgeable about tooth decay. Conclusion: There is gender equality in knowledge and practise of oral hygiene among secondary school students in Khartoum Province. Awareness of oral health issues is high, but specific misconceptions exist. Mother's education might be used as a social marker in oral health risk group evaluations. © 2005 FDI/World Dental Press.