GROWTH STUNTING PREVENTION IN CHILDREN: KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF ORAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS AT BAQAI DENTAL COLLEGE; KARACHI

Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of oral health practitioners at Baqai Dental College regarding growth stunting and its prevention. Growth stunting, a significant public health concern in Pakistan, is closely related to nutritional deficiencies and oral health. Dentists, as key health professionals, have an essential role in addressing this issue.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Baqai Medical University, involving 70 dentists with over 2 years of professional experience. Dentists who did not provide valid informed consent were excluded. Data were collected using a questionnaire assessing two dimensions: (1) knowledge of nutrition, growth, development, and health behavior, categorized as good (76–100%), sufficient (56–75%), or poor (<56%), and (2) perceptions of growth stunting and its prevention, classified as positive or negative based on the mean score. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, with quantitative variables summarized as mean ± SD and qualitative data as frequencies and percentages. Descriptive analysis provided insights into knowledge levels and perceptions. Results: The analysis revealed that 83.3% of the participants demonstrated good knowledge of growth stunting and its prevention, 13.9% had moderate knowledge, and 2.8% exhibited poor knowledge. Regarding perception, 40.28% of participants had positive perceptions, while 59.72% had negative perceptions about their role in stunting prevention. Conclusion: These findings highlight a strong foundational knowledge base among dentists but indicate room for improvement in enhancing their perceptions and confidence in addressing stunting prevention in Pakistan.