title: Oral Health Condition of School Children in Nawalparasi District, Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral diseases and feeding habits are inextricably linked. Significance of assessing oral health conditions among the school children therefore exists. The current study investigated the oral health condition among 5-6 years and 12-13 years children in Nawalparasi district, Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recruiting 1,000 school children aged (5-6) and (12-13) years in Nawalparasi district, a cross-sectional study was carried out from November to December, 2014. Data assembled from standard instrument was entered in Epi-Data 3.1, cleaned in SPSS version 16.0, and analyzed in Epi Info 3.5.4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 12-13 years children, three out of ten (32.0%, 95% CI: 27.8-36.4) suffered from occasional dental discomfort and pain, and 8.1% (95% CI: 5.9-11.0) often experienced dental discomfort and pain during the last 12 months. It was 73.6% (95% CI: 69.3-77.4) who brushed teeth at least once a day, while another 20.7% (95% CI: 17.2-24.7) brushed twice a day. Among all children, 86.1% (95% CI: 82.6-89.1) used toothpaste to brush the teeth. A three-fourth (73.8%, 95% CI: 69.5-77.7) drank tea with sugar daily. Dental caries was visible on 42.2% (95% CI: 37.7-46.8) (mean DMFT score 2.3 ± 1.5). Likewise, a quarter (24.1%, 95% CI: 20.3-28.3) had gingival bleeding, 10.9% (95% CI: 8.3-14.1) questionable enamel fluorosis, 4.5% (95% CI: 2.9-6.9) dental trauma, and 1.7% (95% CI: 0.8-3.5) oral mucosal lesion. Referral for preventive/routine treatment was observed in 40.5% (95% CI: 36.145.1). Among 5-6 years old children, a remarkable proportion of dental caries (64.4%, 95% CI: 59.2-69.4 and mean DMFT score 4.4 ± 3.0) was noted. Statistics of enamel fluorosis, dental trauma, and oral mucosal lesions in this age group were: 3.1% (95% CI: 1.6-5.6), 1.7% (95% CI: 0.7-3.8), and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.4-3.0) respectively. About 40.1% (95% CI: 35.0-45.4) were referred for preventive treatment, and the rest for prompt treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral health of the children was poor, chiefly dental carries remained widespread. Dental hygiene awareness should be promoted in schools in active coordination and collaboration with education authorities.
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Aryal
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhimal
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Sector Support Programme, Ministry of Health and Population, Kathmandu,Nepal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehata
authors.affiliation: Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Morang, Nepal.
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Pokhrel
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bista
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dhakal
authors.affiliation: Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.affiliation: National Academy of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pradhan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014100:Toothpastes; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Dental caries; nepal; oral health; school children; 5-6 years; 12-13 years.