PRATIQUES D’HYGIENE BUCCODENTAIRE DES ELEVES SENEGALAIS : ETUDE TRANSVERSALE DANS LE LYCEE DE NOTTO-DIOBASS DANS LE DEPARTEMENT DE THIES

Abstract

objective: Oral diseases remain a concern among schoolchildren. Promoting good oral health practices can significantly contribute to their prevention. The objective of the study is to describe the oral hygiene practices in rural areas among schoolchildren of the Notto-Diobass High School. method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 302 school children selected by lottery. A questionnaire in the form of a tree-item Lickert scale with four score was used to collect data on the type of oral hygiene practice, its frequency and the times of its implementation. An oral hygiene practice score was defined as the study variable. Its distribution was analyzed by t-test and ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05. results: The average Oral Hygiene Practice (OHP) score was 5.8±1.8; more than half of the school children (52.3%) used brushing as a means of oral hygiene and 41.1% had a mixed hygiene practice (brushing and stick). The frequency of OHP was once/day for 51.3% of the pupils and twice/day for 39.7% of the students. More than third of the schoolchildren (38.6%) had it in the morning and in the evening at bedtime. The mean OHP score is significant different according to the schoolchildren’ study series (p=0.022) and their social conditions of their households (p=0.005). Conclusion: The study revealed an oral hygiene practice that involves almost all schoolchildren but is not adequately carried out, particularly regarding the frequency and timing of OHP and is associated with social determinism. These results recommend the need to improve oral hygiene awareness and education in schools through dedicated programs.