Magnitude of Oral Hygiene Practice its Associated Factor among Elementary School Students in Fiche Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

Background: Neglected elementary school students were susceptible to dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, tooth loss, halitosis, fungus infections, and various gum disorders. Additionally, poor oral hygiene practice has a negative impact on social relationships and behavior; there is limited information on how primary school students practice oral hygiene. This study aimed to determine oral hygiene practice and its associated factors among elementary school students in Fiche Town, Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2022. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted from April 29 to May 29 in Fiche towns, Oromia, Ethiopia, among elementary school students. A multi-stage probability sampling technique was used to select individuals, classes, and schools. The total sample size was 534 elementary school students. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was entered into epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed with SPSS version 26.0. Variables that scored a pvalue of less than 0.2 during the bivariate analysis were included in multilevel logistic regression. The odd ratio with a 95% confidence interval was estimated at the level of significance set at 0.05. Result: The magnitude of good oral hygiene practices among students was 295 (55.2%). About 284 (53.2%) of students brush their teeth, while 147 (27.5%) do it twice per day and 40 (7.5%) three times or more. More than one-third (449, or 84.1%) have good knowledge. Being female, the student’s mother, whose occupation was a homemaker, and school personal hygiene inspection were significantly associated with good oral hygiene practice among elementary school students. Conclusion: Overall, good OHP among elementary school students in Fiche Town was very low. Home caretakers of children and hygiene inspections in school were important to enhance elementary school student’s oral hygiene practices.