Oral health knowledge and oral health behavior among first-year undergraduates of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

---

Original Article

Author Details : Liyana Arachchige Aruni Pradeepika*, EMU Chandra Kumari Herath, Chantha K Jayawardena, Irosha Perera, MCN Fonseka, L Hansamali Prasangika

Volume : 8, Issue : 4, Year : 2022

Article Page : 306-311

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijohd.2022.058

Suggest article by email

Get Permission

---

Abstract

This study aimed to determine oral health knowledge and practices among first-year undergraduates of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and to compare the same among students of the health related (HRF) and non-health-related (NHRF) faculties. Data was collected from 504 students across eight faculties using an online questionnaire prior to commencing discipline-based academic programs. Mean scores for oral health knowledge and practices were 62.56±10.68 and 71.89±15.4, respectively. HRF students showed significantly higher scores for both parameters than NHRF students. Oral health knowledge was associated positively with age, parental education and female gender. Unsatisfactory knowledge scores were observed regarding inter-dental cleaning aids and awareness of oral health toward systemic health. The results revealed, undergraduates exposed to health-related subjects in their school career had better oral health knowledge and practices. Thus, incorporation of health studies for all students in school curricula is important. The level of knowledge and practices could be lower among young adults in the general population as the study sample consisted of only the highest achievers among the young adults. Therefore, oral health education programs are recommended to address knowledge deficits, increase awareness of interdental cleaning and the influence of oral health on systemic diseases.
 

Keywords: Health related knowledge, Oral hygiene, Oral health, University students, Undergraduates.

How to cite : Pradeepika L A A, Herath E C K, Jayawardena C K, Perera I, Fonseka M, Prasangika L H, Oral health knowledge and oral health behavior among first-year undergraduates of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Int J Oral Health Dent 2022;8(4):306-311

This is an Open Access (OA) journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.