Oral Health-related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Rural and Urban School Children, Jaipur

Background and Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the Oral Health related to the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of rural and urban children of Jaipur (Rajasthan). Materials and Methods: A survey form was prepared with the help of a self-administered, structured questionnaire written in English and Hindi, and validated through a pilot survey that included 17 multiple-choice questions to evaluate the oral health awareness, knowledge, attitude, and practices of 12- and 15-year-old children from rural and urban schools. Results: This cross-sectional study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of school children in Jaipur regarding oral health. The study included 1050 children (520 rural, 530 urban) aged 12 and 15 years. Correct knowledge that sweets cause tooth decay was reported by 206 (39.6%) rural and 301 (56.8%) urban students. Awareness of plaque and gum disease was low in both groups. Only 112 (10.7%) children reported regular dental visits, while 178 (17.0%) had never visited a dentist. Most children (1024, 97.5%) used a toothbrush and toothpaste; 627 (59.7%) brushed once daily, and 417 (39.7%) brushed for ≥2 min. Frequent sweet intake (4–6 times/day) was reported by 371 (35.3%) students, and 182 (17.3%) consumed chocolates or candies daily or more often. Soft drink consumption at least daily was noted in 132 (12.6%) students. Conclusion: It is concluded that the present study showed the need for oral health education of the rural school children, aiming at improving oral health knowledge and the continuous implementation of school oral health promotion programs.