Correlation between Oral Health Knowledge and Oral Hygiene Index in Children Aged 11-12 Years

Abstract

Oral hygiene is very crucial in preventing oral diseases as well as in the functions of mastication, speech and aesthetic. Oral health problems, especially in children, can be caused due to lack of knowledge and practice in oral hygiene. There are triggers such as knowledge for an individual to act upon oral hygiene. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between oral health knowledge and oral hygiene index in children aged 11-12 years. This research was designed by cross-sectional analytical study. Fifty four subjects within the age range between 11-12 years old schooling at SDN Sekeloa were selected to be respondents based on the total sampling technique. Oral health knowledge was measured by a questionnaire, while oral hygiene index was measured by Green and Vermillion Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. The result of this research shows that the level of oral health knowledge among 11-12 years children is moderate (μ=70.5%), while their oral hygiene index is in good category (μ=1.2). However, there is no correlation between oral health knowledge and oral hygiene index (p=0.125). The conclusion is, there is no correlation between oral health knowledge and oral hygiene index in children aged 11-12 years.

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Keywords

Knowledge, Oral Hygiene Index, 11-12 Years

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