The Analysis of School’s Roles on the Oral Health of School Students in Mixed Thai-migrant Primary School under the Concept of Ecological Model: A Mixed-method Study at Ban Hauy-Som School, Chiang Mai

Abstract

The study objective is to describe the school’s roles in students' oral health under the Ecological model. In the school year 2022, a cross-sectional mixed-method study was performed at Ban Huay-Som Primary School, Sanpatong district, Chiang Mai, where the ratio of Thai to migrant students was 1.8:1. The school director and teachers were interviewed for student’s oral health behaviors and school management information while student’s parents were asked to answer the questionnaire about their children’s behaviors at home. The Functional Oral Health Literacy Test was administered to 67 students in grades 4-6. Oral health records showed an increased caries rate in Thai and migrant students compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Even though 23% of students neglected to brush before bed and 73% frequently consumed unhealthy snacks at home, 100% of them kept brushing their teeth at school every day after lunch, and the oral health literacy score was adequate (x ̅=21.5 ± 2.96). Results from the content analysis showed the school’s roles in students’ oral health as follows; 1) at an individual level, manipulating oral health projects to improve oral health literacy and oral health behavior, 2) at an interpersonal level, motivating teachers’ awareness on students’ oral health, 3) at an organization and policy level: giving precedence to school health promotion policies, 4) at a community level: cooperating with local organizations for oral health services. In conclusion: schools should equally give an opportunity to maintain good oral health for every student.