First year results of the pilot project for developing the oral health of primary school students in Denizli

Introduction:

In the study, education on improving the oral health(OH) is given to the students in 6 primary schools in Denizli and the 1^st year results are evaluated.

Material and Method:

A total of 32 classes at the 1^st, 3^rdand 7^th grades of 6 primary schools were chosen in the areas of low socio-economical levels by using a simple random sampling method. The behaviors of the students about OH were determined by a questionnaire. Later, education on oral health was given to the students and their parents. Examinations of the students were made by dentists.

A second questionnaire was applied in first month. Later, a second education was given to the students for reinforcing.

One year later, a 3^rd questionnaire was applied for investigating the differences in the behaviors on OH.

The data of the students that entered in both of the surveys were compared. Mc-Nemar chi-square test was used in analyses.

Results:

The number of students that took the initial and last questionnaire is 784.

The evaluation of the results indicates that there are positive improvements in the behaviors of the students on OH.

The rate of students that brush their teeth at least once a day increased from 61.2% to71.2% and the and the rate of floss use increased from 1.7% to6.2% at the end of the 1^st year. After the trainings the applications to the dentists were increased(%15). Also the number of control visits increased approximately 2.5 times.

Positive improvements were also observed in the feeding behaviors. The number of students regularly eating both at lunch and dinner increased. While biscuits were the most preferred nutrition between the meals, it converted to fruits at the end of the first year.

Conclusion:

Positive improvements were observed in the behaviors of the students about OH with the two educations.