Use of dentifrice and occurrence of dental caries among school children in Nembe, Bayelsa State.
Date
2023-04
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
This study aims at determining the pattern of the use of oral dentifrices, dental caries occurrence and the impact of age and sex on the use of dentifrice as oral self-care measures by secondary school children in Nembe, Bayelsa State. One of the goals of the World Health Organization is to ensure increased uptake of preventive oral selfcare. This would require the design public health programmes that will ensure children place premium on preventive oral health care uptake. One effort in that direction is the need for countries to define baseline measures on use of preventive oral self-care measures by their population as well as identify factors that impact on its use. Pupils age 8 to 21 years in two Secondary Schools in Nembe completed a questionnaire about dentifrice oral self-care (use of fluoridated toothpaste, flossing, regularity of consuming sugary snacks between main meals), time of the last dental check-up. 350 students were selected from the two schools as sample size using Taro Yamane formula. With the administration of self-administered questions to gather the information and SPSS version 27 was used to analysis the data. Pearson Chi square was used to test association between age (8-12years, 13–16 years and 17 above), sex, and to determine the effect on the use of dentifrice and caries occurrence. Result shows that the age brackets, 13 – 16 years constituted 154(44%), Male genders 180(51.4%) which had the largest proportion, gender-based. Result also shows that there is a high proportion on the usage of dentifrice (73.2%), rate of occurrence of dental caries among the Secondary school students in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa state. Only 169(48.3%) the study population practiced the recommended oral self-care, and 95(27%) always visited the dental clinic for a check-up in the last one year. This study also shows a significant level (X2 = 611.057, P<0.001) on the pattern of use of oral dentifrice among secondary school students. This study shows a significant level (X2 = 199.87, P<0.000) timing and duration of on the pattern of use of oral dentifrice among secondary school students. The results showed a level of statistically significant on the rate of occurrence on dental caries among the students (X2 =243.64, P<0.000, X2 =50.13, P<0.001, X2 =97.31, P<0.001) The results also showed a level of statistically significant on the effects of the use of dentifrice on dental caries occurrence among the respondent (P<0.001). Dental caries is a common public health problem in school children associated with poor oral hygiene, dietary and lack of dental visit habits. Therefore, prevention measures such as health education on oral hygiene, dietary habits and importance of dental visit are obligatory for children. The Level of utilization of dental care and the use of dentifrice should be kept standard in a way the school oral health programs should be implemented in other to promote oral health awareness and encourage routine dental check-up among these students.
Description
A master's thesis on "dentifrice and occurrence of dental caries"
Keywords
Oral health, health literacy, epidemiology, preventive programs, dental plaque, socio-behavioural risk factors, public health
Citation
Idubamo, W. (2023). Use of dentifrice and occurrence of dental caries among school children in Nembe, Bayelsa State. (Unpublished master's thesis), Federal University of Technology, Owerri