IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS)

e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 14, Issue 7 Ver. IV (July. 2015), PP 111-116
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Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Oral Health

Status among School Teachers in and Around Lucknow, UP
Dr. Paramjeet Singh1, Dr. Iqbal Singh 2, Dr.N.D.Gupta3, Dr.R.K.Tewari4,
Dr. Neha Agrawal5, Dr. Pramod Yadav6
1,2

(Public Health Dentistry/Indra Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu, India)

(Periodontics & Community Dentistry, Dr.Z.A.Dental College & Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh, India)
4
(Conservative dentistry & Endodontics, Dr.Z.A.Dental College & Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh, India)

3,5,6

Abstract:
Background: To assess the oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and oral health status among urban and
rural school teachers in and around Lucknow.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 797 school teachers of rural and urban,
lucknow using W. H.O Oral Health Survey (1997) to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices and oral health
status. Descriptive analysis was done and data was analyzed using chi square and ANOVA test.
Results: Most of the urban (82.83%:328) and (94.76%:380) of rural school teachers had good knowledge in
relation to periodontal diseases in comparison to dental caries. The mean DMFT was more among urban males
(2.542.40) and rural females (2.432.57) respectively. Prevalence of periodontal diseases, was higher among
urban and rural female school teachers
Conclusion: In this study findings revealed that urban and rural teachers had fair knowledge about oral
diseases but less knowledge related to preventive dentistry.
Keywords: Attitude, knowledge, oral health, practices, school, teacher.

I.

Introduction

Teachers shape the future of country and prepare the young ones for life. Thus they should remain as
role models for the children. Teachers cannot assist in developing well-informed students, if they themselves
remain misinformed.1According to WHO, Global Data Bank (WHO 1995), more than 15% of the countries in
the world show an average of 4.5 decayed, missing or filled teeth per child up to twelve years old. 2
Teachers having good oral health knowledge can play an important role in the implementation of
various school based oral health education and preventive programmes, which aim at improving oral health
behaviour and status of child population.3
Studies in Tanzania, Romania, China and Saudi Arabia have reported positive attitudes among school
teachers towards school based dental health education and a willingness to be involved in oral health
promotion.4 Present study has been undertaken to assess personal oral health behaviour and status among urban
and rural schoolteachers. Since very few studies have been reported in the literatures especially so in developing
countries like India.
This study was conducted with the aim to assess the oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and oral
health status among urban and rural school teachers in and around Lucknow

II.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2013 on school teachers of rural and
urban, lucknow, to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices and oral health status. Ethical clearence was
obtained from institutional ethical committee of Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical
Sciences, Lucknow. The calculation of sample size was performed to seek the results at 95% confidence level
for which the value of z = 1.96. The allowable error taken has been 0.05, i.e. e= 0.05.
Lucknow city was divided geographically into five zones, east, west, north, south and central for urban
and rural areas, approximately 22 wards came under each of these zones. A list of urban and rural secondary and
higher secondary schools situated in and around Lucknow, was obtained from District School Officer (DSO).
Stratified Random Sampling was done to select the schools. Necessary permission was taken from the
Government authorities and heads of schools. All teachers working in the selected schools were included in the
study. Teachers, not present on the scheduled date of survey, were excluded from the study. A total of 797
DOI: 10.9790/0853-1474111116

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Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Oral Health Status among
teachers were included in this study. A written informed consent was obtained from the schoolteachers to be
examined before the commencement of the study.
Pilot Study: A pilot study was conducted to assess the validity of the questionnaire and operational feasibility
of the study. Proforma for clinical oral health status examination and data collection was prepared by using W.
H.O Oral Health Survey (1997).
Method of Data Collection: A single calibrated investigator interviewed the subjects. A self-administered,
closed-ended questionnaire was developed both in English and Hindi format. The components of the proforma
included demographic informations, questionnaire about oral health knowledge, attitude and practices. Oral
health status of an individual was assessed by clinical assessment for dental caries, periodontal disease, dental
fluorosis and malocclusion. Five point Likert Scale was used to quantify Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of
urban and rural school teachers. Cronbachs alpha was applied for the reliability of the questionnaire and it was
found to be 0.84.
Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was done using S.P.S.S version 16.0
software. The level of
significance was chosen at p< 0.05. Chi Square test and ANOVA test were employed to analyze the data.

III.

Results

Graph 1:Age and gender wise distribution of study population

Female(432)

Male(365)
19-29
11%

30-39

40-49

50+
19-29

30-39

20%
29%

2%

17%

40%

40-49

50+

35%

46%

pie chart 1 depicts the distribution of study population according to age and gender. The age of the teachers
ranged from 19-50 years with mean age of 37.7310.5 years. Among them 45.79% (365) were males and 54.21
% (432) females. The teachers were divided in to 4 age groups. About 43.41(346) of teachers belonged to 30-39
years followed by those belonging to 19-29years (32.37%:258), 40-49 years (18.44%:147) and 50 years and
above (5.77%: 1.62)
Graph 2: Gender wise distribution of teachers
67.17
58

Male
41.39

Female

32.82

Urban

Rural

Graph 2 indicates the gender wise distribution of the study population according to location. Among urban
teachers majority of them were females (67.17%:266) followed by 32.82 %( 130) males.Among rural teachers
majority of them were males (58%: 235) followed by 41.39 %( 166) females.

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Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Oral Health Status among
Graph 3: Distribution of male teachers according to their oral health knowledge.
Good

Fair

Poor

100
86.58

98.36

89.32

96.98

83.29

99.18

96.16

21.36

16.16

2.19

16.44

0.55

0
3.84

11.78

0.82

0.82

Where do
you get
oral health
information

What is
dental
caries

20.55

0
10.68 0

1.64

0
0

What do
you think
cause of
tooth
decay

What is
pyorrhea

Do you
think
dental
problem
can be
prevented

Do you
know what
is fluoride

0.55

What is
common
source of
fluoride

What is
function of
fluoride

Why is it
important
to have
good
dentition

Graph 4: Distribution of female teachers according to their oral health knowledge

Female Good

Female Fair

Female Poor

99.07
78.47

98.62

82.64

90.05

98.15

80.01
83.1

33.56
7.41

0.69
19.22

7.87
13.66

15.051.85

0
1.85

17.36 0

2.55

Where do
you get
oral health
information

What is
dental
caries

What do
you think
cause of
tooth
decay

0.93

What is
pyorrhea

Do you
think
dental
problem
can be
prevented

Do you
know what
is fluoride

What is
common
source of
fluoride

0
1.38

What is
function of
fluoride

0
0.23

Why is it
important
to have
good
dentition

Graph 5: Age wise distribution of teachers according to their oral health knowledge.

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Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Oral Health Status among
Graph 6: Distribution of teachers according to their oral health knowledge with respect to educational status .
Undergraduate

Graduate

Postgraduate

80.34
91.8
18.95 80
0.71
8.4

20
0
Good

Fair

Poor

Graph 7: Location wise distribution of teachers according to their oral health knowledge.
Urban

Rural

71.8
74.8
18.98
0.92

24.4
0.74

Good

Fair

Poor

Graph 8: Gender wise distribution of teachers according to their oral health attitude & behaviour .

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Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Oral Health Status among
Graph 9: Distribution of teachers according to their oral health attitude & behaviour with respect to
educational status.
Undergraduate

Graduate

Postgraduate

99.72
88.9
95.3

95.3

69.23
77.65

100

100

60

19.23
22.35

0.57

16.24
0.28

20

20

What do you How often

do in order do you clean
to take care
your teeth
of your oral
health

How often
do you
consume
sweets

Regular visit Treatment is

Keeping
Keeping
to a dentist
necessary natural teeth teeth healthy
prevents
for your
is important
is of great
dental
dental
importance
problems
problem
to me

Graph 10: Gender and location wise distribution of severity of dental fluorosis among schoolteachers.
Urban Male

Urban Female

Rural Male

Rural Female

67.3

52.17
46.1

43.7
38.4

34.7

37.5

12.2

4.34

13.6
7.69
6.25
4.34

6.8

3.84

4.34
7.5

3.84
0

Normal

Questionable

Very mild

IV.

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Discussion

In this study findings revealed that urban and rural teachers had fair knowledge about oral diseases but less
knowledge related to preventive dentistry.
Most of the urban, and rural teachers had good knowledge about periodontal disease. However they did not
have much knowledge about fluoride. These findings concur with results of the study by Poul Erik Peterson
and Zhou Esheng (1998)5
In this study most of urban and rural teachers affirmatively felt dental problems can be prevented. These
findings coIn this study most of the urban teachers had good knowledge about importance of good
dentition. These findings are similar with results of the study by Paul Erik Peterson, Loan Denali and Anca
Samoila (1993).6
A large proportion of urban and rural teachers had knowledge about tooth decay is caused by sugary food.
The results were similar to study Poul Erik Peterson et al (1998).
Regarding the oral hygiene aids almost all urban and rural teachers felt that tooth brush and toothpaste to be
used as oral hygiene aid. These findings concur with results of the study by Paul Erik Peterson (1998). In
response of visiting a dentist. Majority of rural teachers never visited a dentist. The results were similar to
study Paul Lang et al (1990).7
Most of the urban teachers answered affirmatively regarding visit to a dentist prevents dental problems. No
statistical significance was observed between oral health knowledge and attitude with regard to educational
status

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Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Oral Health Status among

In the urban and rural males of age groups 40-49 and 50 yrs had higher mean M component (1.21 0.88)
and (1.42 0.75) of DMFT. This observation is similar with the findings of Chikte U.M.E. et al (1990).
Regarding prevalence of periodontal disease, findings revealed that urban and rural female school teachers,
among all age groups had higher mean CPI score (0.76 0.89) over males. This observation is similar with
the study of Ritchie J.et al (1979).8
Regarding prevalence of dental fluorosis in male and female school teachers belonging to rural and urban
areas was 6.80%(very mild) fluorosis. This observation is similar with the study by Khalid Alam et al
(2001).9
Regarding severity of malocclusion it was found 5.76 %( 15) and 18.7 %(30) of urban and rural females
had severe and definite malocclusion. This observation is similar with the study by Burgerdijk R.C
(1989).10

V.

Conclusion

Regarding mean DMFT score, mean CPIscore, dental fluorosis and malocclusion there was no significant
difference in relation to their age, gender, educational status and geographical location.The study results
suggest that there was no statistically significant difference in oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviour
of schoolteachers in relation to their age, gender, educational status and geographical location.Regarding
oral health knowledge, attitude and practices of schoolteachers were of fair degree. However there was
evident gap between their knowledge and what they were really practicing.

Continued Dental Education Programmes, Teachers Training programmes should be organized to impart
scientific knowledge to teachers to improve their oral health.
Efforts should be encouraged to educate teachers about modern preventive dentistry for oral health
promotion among school children.
It would be beneficial to include school teachers effectively in Oral Health Care delivery System especially
school oral health care programmes.

VI.

Suggestions

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