Teachers' Perceptions of Oral Health-Related Barriers to School Functioning in a Socioeconomically Vulnerable School...

Oral health problems may function as health-related barriers to school functioning by affecting children's concentration, attendance, and classroom participation, particularly in socioeconomically vulnerable settings. Teachers are strategically positioned to observe these situations and support school-based oral health promotion; however, evidence from vulnerable Latin American communities remains limited. This study examined teachers' oral health awareness, perceptions regarding oral health-related barriers to school functioning, classroom oral health promotion practices, and perceived support needs in a socioeconomically vulnerable school community in Costa Rica.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool and primary school teachers from 13 public educational institutions in a socioeconomically vulnerable urban district of Costa Rica (N = 261). Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire assessing oral health awareness, perceived school functioning impacts, classroom oral health promotion practices, and support needs.

Teachers reported high oral health awareness scores (mean score = 4.28 ± 0.61). Most participants perceived that oral health problems interfered with students' concentration (82.4%), and 82.0% reported observing situations in which oral health problems appeared to interfere with school functioning. Although 80.1% reported addressing oral health topics during the academic year, implementation was generally infrequent. Willingness to strengthen school-based oral health promotion activities was high (86.6%).

Teachers frequently perceived oral health problems as relevant to students' school functioning; however, implementation of oral health promotion activities remained limited. Strengthening teacher-focused training, institutional support, and school-health collaboration may support more sustainable school-based oral health promotion strategies in vulnerable communities.