title: Dental health behaviours among early adolescents in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and socioeconomic differences in dental health behaviours among Hong Kong early adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 4927 students (44.7% boys) aged 14-15 from 36 secondary schools in 2000-2001. Students reported their socioeconomic information and dental health behaviours using the Health Related Behaviour General Questionnaire (HRBGQ). Logistic regression models were used to determine the adjusted odds ratios of regular tooth brushing (at least twice daily), weekly use of dental floss (in the past 7days) and annual dental visit (in the past 12months) for different socioeconomic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the subjects, 77.8% reported to have brushed regularly, but only 22.3% used dental floss weekly and 37.9% had annual dental visit. Male gender and Chinese ethnicity were significantly associated with lower odds of regular brushing, use of dental floss and annual dental visit. Two or more siblings and not living with both parents were also significantly associated with lower odds of regular brushing and annual dental visit. Furthermore, students living in non-private housing were significantly less likely to have annual dental visit than those in private housing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular brushing was common, but not use of dental floss and annual dental visits among Hong Kong early adolescents. In general, socioeconomic disparity in dental health behaviours was observed. Extending the existing government-run dental health programmes to secondary school students in Hong Kong is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. kkmak@hku.hk
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012016:Reference Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*