BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF ORAL HEALTH STATUS AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33279/jkcd.v16i02.1010Keywords:
Oral Health, Oral hygiene behavior, Lifestyle factors, Schoolchildren, Dental caries, Health, CommunityAbstract
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between lifestyle behaviors, traditional practices, and oral health status among school children.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 142 students aged 10–18 years at a government school in Karachi, Pakistan. Behavioral information was collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing tooth brushing frequency, floss use, dietary habits, betel nut consumption, stress-related neglect of oral care, and traditional practices such as miswak use. Clinical oral examinations were performed following World Health Organization (WHO) criteria to record gingival bleeding and tooth sensitivity. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics and chisquare tests were applied, with statistical signifi cance set at p<0.05.
Results: Dental caries were present in 46.5% of participants, while 41.5% reported tooth sensitivity and 38% exhibited gingival bleeding. A significant association was observed between brushing frequency and dental caries (p=0.007). Gingival bleeding was also significantly associated with tooth sensitivity (p=0.027). No statistically significant association was observed between dental caries and betel nut consumption, miswak use, or snack frequency.
Conclusion: Oral hygiene behaviors, particularly tooth brushing frequency, were the most important determinants of oral health status among schoolchildren. The findings highlight the need for strengthened school-based oral health education and preventive interventions aimed at improving daily hygiene practices.
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