title: Oral health-related knowledge, attitude, and practices among 12-year-old schoolchildren studying in rural areas of Panchkula, India.
abstract: Oral health is fundamental to general health and well being. Schools can provide a supportive environment for promoting oral health. School policies and education on health-related matters are imperative for the attainment of good oral health and control of related risk behaviors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess oral health-related knowledge, attitude, and practices among 12-year-old schoolchildren studying in rural areas of Panchkula, India. The ultimate goal was to implement an oral health-promotion program in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 440 children (216 males and 224 females) from 12 schools were included in this study. All the participants were requested to complete a 13-question closed-ended questionnaire. The statistical significance of any difference between the two genders was determined using the Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 25% of the participants said that they cleaned their teeth more than once in a day. Thirty-two percent did not clean their teeth daily. Over the preceding 1 year, 45.5% of the childern had had some problem with their teeth and/or gums, but only 35.9% visited the dentist. Among these children, 8.2% used tobacco in some form. Oral health-related knowledge of girls was significantly better than that of boys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based upon the findings of the present study, the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the surveyed children with regard to oral health is poor. Hence, there is a need for regular oral health education of the children, as well as their parents and school teachers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Dr. HS Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Panjab University, Chandigarh (UT), India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Gurkiran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000523:psychology; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides