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08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Why Iranian adolescents do not brush their teeth: a qualitative study
A H Pakpour1, A Hidarnia, E Hajizadeh
1Department of Public Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
International Journal of Dental Hygiene
|July 23, 2011
Summary
Iranian adolescents view tooth-brushing as a chore, influenced by parents, and often irrelevant to daily life or health. This highlights a need for targeted health education.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Oral Hygiene Behaviors
Background:
- Understanding adolescent attitudes towards oral hygiene is crucial for developing effective public health interventions.
- Previous research has not fully explored the specific perceptions of Iranian adolescents regarding tooth-brushing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and describe the attitudes of Iranian adolescents towards the practice of tooth-brushing.
- To identify key themes influencing their oral hygiene behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative content analysis of focus-group discussions with 37 Iranian adolescents.
- Data collection involved tape-recorded sessions, verbatim transcription, and thematic analysis.
Main Results:
- Four major categories emerged: tooth-brushing as a 'necessary evil,' parental influence, perceived insignificance, and viewing it as a health hazard.
- A central theme identified was that tooth-brushing is not integrated into adolescents' daily routines.
- Adolescents expressed varied and sometimes contradictory views on the importance and practice of brushing.
Conclusions:
- Health educators must involve parents in promoting oral hygiene awareness.
- Educational strategies should focus on brushing techniques, causes of toothache, and correcting misconceptions.
- Interventions need to address the perceived lack of relevance of tooth-brushing in daily life.
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