Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Oral Hygiene among Primary School Children in Selected Schools at Kottarakkara

A quantitative study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding oral hygiene among primary school children in selected schools at Kottarakkara. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge regarding oral hygiene among primary school children, to assess the attitude regarding oral hygiene among primary school children, to find the association between knowledge regarding oral hygiene among primary school children and selected demographic variables, to find the association between attitude regarding oral hygiene among primary school children and selected demographic variables, and to test the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding oral hygiene among primary school children. The sample size was 50; samples were selected using non-probability convenient sampling technique and then provided with structured knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the gathered data. Out of 50 elementary school students, the study found that 4 (8%) had insufficient understanding, 44 (88%) had intermediate knowledge, and 2 (4%) had appropriate knowledge. The result shows that there is no significant relationship between knowledge and selected demographic variables such as age (Chi-square = 3.141, p = 7.82), gender (Chi-square = 0.355, p = 3.84), religion (Chi-square = 1.502, p = 5.99), type of family (Chi-square = 3.457, p = 5.99), area of residence (Chi-square = 0.665 ,p = 53.84), father's occupation (Chi-square = 2.605, p = 7.82), mother's occupation (Chi-square = 4.935, p = 7.82), food preferences (Chi-square = 0.355, p = 3.84). But there is significant relationship between knowledge and source of previous information regarding oral hygiene (Chi-square = 13.046, p = 12.59). There is no significant relationship between attitude and selected demographic variables such as age xi (Chi-square = 3.141, p = 7.82), gender (Chi-square = 0.355, p = 3.84), religion (Chi-square = 1.502, p = 5.99), type of family (Chi-square = 3.45, p = 5.98), area of residence (Chi-square = 0.665, p = 3.84), father's occupation (Chi-square = 2.605, p = 7.82), mother's occupation (Chi-square = 4.935, p = 7.82), food preference (Chi-square = 0.355, p = 3.84). There is a weak to moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding oral hygiene among primary school children (r value = 0.263). Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Oral hygiene, Primary school children.