Oral health knowledge, attitude and practice among NCC Navy Cadets and their correlation with oral hygiene in south India.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to determine oral health knowledge, attitude and practice among National Cadet Corps (NCC) Navy Cadets and their correlation with oral hygiene in South India.


METHODS
A questionnaire study was conducted among 412 high school students who were voluntary participants of an NCC unit in South India. Knowledge, attitude and practice scores were calculated, and then were correlated with Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) values. Spearman's correlation test was used to measure the correlation. The significance value was set at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software for Windows, version 13.


RESULTS
NCC Cadets' knowledge about gum diseases and the use of fluoride-containing dentifrice was found to be low, dental visits were infrequent and the consumption of sweets was found to be high. There was no correlation between knowledge and attitude scores with that of OHI-S, but a significant correlation was seen between practice and OHI-S scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the cadets did not have knowledge about the causes and the prevention of dental diseases. A significant number of participants sought further information, hence it can be said that the cadets had a positive attitude towards oral health. There was no correlation seen between knowledge and attitude scores with that of OHI-S measured, but a significant correlation was noted between practice and OHI-S scores.
Singh
Abhinav
A
RKDF Dental College and Research Centre, Madhya Pradesh, India. drabhinav.singh@gmail.com
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003802:Dentifrices; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005459:Fluorides