Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2011
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
28
Issue:
4

Oral health behaviour of urban and semi-urban schoolchildren in the Lao PDR

Objective: To describe the oral health related knowledge, behaviour, and attitude towards health of 12-year old Lao schoolchildren; analyse how health risk factors relate to socio-demographic background; and determine the relative effect of living conditions on health and risk behaviour. Methods: Cross sectional study of 12-year old schoolchildren chosen by multistage sampling to fit the objective of the study. The final sample comprised 621 children of 2nd grade of secondary schools in Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic. Data were collected by structured questionnaire covering behaviour, attitudes and knowledge related to oral and general health and perception of own health. Results: 69% of the children reported toothache during the previous 12 months and 38% reported school absenteeism due to toothache. Nevertheless, 77% stated frequent brushing and 91% the use of fluoridated toothpaste. Only 29% reported dental visits for this period while 42% had never seen a dentist. Fear of pain, cost and distance were stated as barriers for dental visits. Knowledge on caries prevention was high, aetiology of oral disease less known, and intake of hidden sugar surprisingly frequent. Socio-economic position and attitude towards health were important predictors for oral health behaviour and risk behaviour. Conclusions: Despite regular tooth brushing practice and widespread use of fluoridated toothpaste school absenteeism due to toothache is high. Significant socio-demographic gradient exists in risk factors for oral health. To reduce oral health inequality systematic oral health promotion should be implemented through the existing school health platform strengthening healthy behaviour and focussing on risk factors for oral as well as general health.

Key words: Laos, oral health, behaviour, attitude, knowledge, children, school, absence, toothache, health promotion

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
280
Page End
285
Authors
N. Jürgensen, P.E. Petersen

Articles from this issue

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  1. Editorial - Early Childhood Caries: a complex problem requiring a complex intervention
  2. 254
  3. 254

  1. Why has oral health promotion and prevention failed children requiring general anaesthesia for dental extractions?
  2. 255
  3. 258

  1. The relationship between dental care and perceived oral health impacts
  2. 259
  3. 264

  1. Is the shortened dental arch an underused treatment strategy in the Republic of Ireland?
  2. 265
  3. 268

  1. Predictors of utilisation of dental care services in a nationally representative sample of adults
  2. 269
  3. 273

  1. Applicability of both dentist and patient perceptions of dentists’ explanations to the evaluation of dentist–patient communication
  2. 274
  3. 279

  1. Oral health behaviour of urban and semi-urban schoolchildren in the Lao PDR
  2. 280
  3. 285

  1. Evaluation of a preventive program based on caries risk among mentally challenged children using the Cariogram model
  2. 286
  3. 291

  1. The effect of a modified fluoride toothpaste technique on buccal enamel caries in adults with high caries prevalence: a 2-year clinical trial
  2. 292
  3. 296

  1. Association of clinical oral health status with self-rated oral health and GOHAI in Japanese adults
  2. 297
  3. 300

  1. Prevalence of periodontopathogens in a black Brazilian secluded community matched with a black urban population
  2. 301
  3. 304

  1. Association of pulp stones with coronary artery stenosis
  2. 305
  3. 307

  1. Incisor trauma in a Turkish preschool population: Prevalence and socio-economic risk factors
  2. 308
  3. 312

  1. Malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need measured by the Dental Aesthetic Index and its association with dental caries in Indian schoolchildren
  2. 313
  3. 316