Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry

ARTICLE
Year
: 2008  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 12  |  Page : 20--26

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of School Teachers in Chennai


Benley George, Joseph John, S Saravanan, I Meignana Arumugham 
 Department of Public Health Dentistry, College of Dental Surgery, Saveetha University, 162, Poonamallee high road, Velappanchavadi, Chennai 600 077, India

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Aim: To assess the oral health Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of school teachers in Chennai. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was used for the study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 45 schools were conveniently selected from 5 zones in Chennai. A total of 971 school teachers had participated in the survey. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test and p<0.05 was selected in describing the levels of significance. Results: This study shows statistically significant relationship between oral health knowledge and attitude with regard to age and gender (p<0.05).Among the school teachers in the age group of 50 +, ninety-six percent of them knew that dental decay was the most common oral disease. This study showed that 6.3 %, 30.6%, 40.1% and 20.8% of the school teachers consumed soda, juice or tinned fruits, sweets or chocolate and cakes atleast once a day respectively. Among the male teachers, 97.9% had agreed that dental visit is important to them. No statistical significance was observed between oral health knowledge and attitude with regard to educational status. Condusion: The school teachers were well informed pertaining to oral health. However, a few deficiencies were noticed in this regard and recommendations have been presented. There is a need for the inclusion of oral health promotion in the curriculum of the school teachers which will thereby benefit the school children in the future. The dental professionals as a part of their task should update the knowledge of the schoolteachers by conducting dental health workshops and other oral health promotional programmes.


How to cite this article:
George B, John J, Saravanan S, Arumugham I M. Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of School Teachers in Chennai.J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2008;6:20-26


How to cite this URL:
George B, John J, Saravanan S, Arumugham I M. Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of School Teachers in Chennai. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent [serial online] 2008 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];6:20-26
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2008;volume=6;issue=12;spage=20;epage=26;aulast=George;type=0