Factors related to oral hygiene behavior of primary school students Sri Prachan district , Suphanburi Province

Abstract

             The purpose of this research is to study about oral hygiene behavior and related factors that influence the behavior of grade 4-6 students at Sri Prachan district, Suphanburi. By selecting 352 students as a sample group, their information was collected by using questionnaire, which divided into 6 parts; personal oral hygiene behavior, attitude about oral health care, perception of their own oral health care behavior, model behavior in oral health care from parents, and the influenced behavior from friends. The relationship between each factor was analyzed by using Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Chi Square.

              The research has found that 1) the most performed oral hygiene behaviors are that students always brush their teeth every day after waking up with the proper size toothbrush. And 77.84, 78.41, 76.42 and 60.80 percent of students will eventually change their toothbrush when its head starts to look worn out, respectively. 2) The results of analyzing relationship between factors found that perception of their own oral health care behavior, attitude about oral health care, model behavior in oral health care from parents, and the influenced behavior from friends, are significantly related to oral hygiene behavior in students at the level of 0.01. Thus, in order to develop oral hygiene behavior in students, we should take care of oral health not only at the students themselves, but also at their friends and parents.