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Oral Health Condition of School Children in Nawalparasi District, Nepal
Insights
Oral health among Nepalese school children is poor, with widespread dental caries. Promoting dental hygiene awareness in schools is crucial for improving children's oral health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Oral diseases are closely linked to feeding habits.
- Assessing oral health in school children is significant for early intervention.
- This study focused on the oral health of children in Nawalparasi district, Nepal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the oral health condition of school children aged 5-6 and 12-13 years.
- To identify prevalent oral health issues in the studied population.
- To provide data for targeted oral health interventions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,000 school children (5-6 and 12-13 years).
- Data collection occurred from November to December 2014 in Nawalparasi district.
- Statistical analysis was performed using Epi-Data, SPSS, and Epi Info software.
Main Results:
- Dental caries was prevalent, affecting 42.2% of 12-13 year olds (mean DMFT 2.3) and 64.4% of 5-6 year olds (mean DMFT 4.4).
- Other findings included dental discomfort, gingival bleeding, enamel fluorosis, dental trauma, and oral mucosal lesions.
- A significant proportion of children required referral for preventive or prompt dental treatment.
Conclusions:
- The oral health status of school children in the studied area is poor, with dental caries being a major concern.
- There is a need to enhance dental hygiene awareness programs in schools.
- Collaboration between health and education authorities is recommended for effective oral health promotion.
Background:
Oral diseases and feeding habits are inextricably linked. Significance of assessing oral health conditions among the school children therefore exists. The current study investigated the oral health condition among 5-6 years and 12-13 years children in Nawalparasi district, Nepal.
Methods:
Recruiting 1,000 school children aged (5-6) and (12-13) years in Nawalparasi district, a cross-sectional study was carried out from November to December, 2014. Data assembled from standard instrument was entered in Epi-Data 3.1, cleaned in SPSS version 16.0, and analyzed in Epi Info 3.5.4.
Results:
Of 12-13 years children, three out of ten (32.0%, 95% CI: 27.8-36.4) suffered from occasional dental discomfort and pain, and 8.1% (95% CI: 5.9-11.0) often experienced dental discomfort and pain during the last 12 months. It was 73.6% (95% CI: 69.3-77.4) who brushed teeth at least once a day, while another 20.7% (95% CI: 17.2-24.7) brushed twice a day. Among all children, 86.1% (95% CI: 82.6-89.1) used toothpaste to brush the teeth. A three-fourth (73.8%, 95% CI: 69.5-77.7) drank tea with sugar daily. Dental caries was visible on 42.2% (95% CI: 37.7-46.8) (mean DMFT score 2.3 ± 1.5). Likewise, a quarter (24.1%, 95% CI: 20.3-28.3) had gingival bleeding, 10.9% (95% CI: 8.3-14.1) questionable enamel fluorosis, 4.5% (95% CI: 2.9-6.9) dental trauma, and 1.7% (95% CI: 0.8-3.5) oral mucosal lesion. Referral for preventive/routine treatment was observed in 40.5% (95% CI: 36.145.1). Among 5-6 years old children, a remarkable proportion of dental caries (64.4%, 95% CI: 59.2-69.4 and mean DMFT score 4.4 ± 3.0) was noted. Statistics of enamel fluorosis, dental trauma, and oral mucosal lesions in this age group were: 3.1% (95% CI: 1.6-5.6), 1.7% (95% CI: 0.7-3.8), and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.4-3.0) respectively. About 40.1% (95% CI: 35.0-45.4) were referred for preventive treatment, and the rest for prompt treatment.
Conclusions:
Oral health of the children was poor, chiefly dental carries remained widespread. Dental hygiene awareness should be promoted in schools in active coordination and collaboration with education authorities.
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