Year : 2021

Volume : Volume 12

Issue : Issue 2

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Poonam Pandya
pupandya11@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Street children are usually termed as any child (either boy or girl), who habitats in street and earns their livelihood. A definite impact is borne on the general and dental health behaviour as well as knowledge of these children resulting from the lacuna of family support. These factors lead to development of diseases through adulthood with roots in earlier ages. Aim is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding dental status and oral health status of street children in Bhopal city, Central India. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire included 9 variables assessing knowledge regarding oral health such as causes of dental caries and gingivitis, prevention of caries and gum disease, fluoride facts and questions about importance of oral health education. Attitude assessing variables were made of 6 assessors elaborating dental ailment occurrence and frequency and reasons for dental visit. Oral hygiene practices assessing variable include 6 assessors about frequency, material, in street cleaning. Results: Half of the study population (39.3%) cleaned their teeth shows that brushing was not practiced in greater numbers in the street children. only 3.7% (58) of the children used tooth pastes. 36.4% of the participants felt that dental caries was caused by sugary food or sweets, followed by 33.9% thinking it was a certain worm. Gum bleeding cause was thought to be caused by a certain worm in 27.9% of the street children. Conclusion: Study reveals that the street children of Bhopal has poor knowledge, attitude and oral hygiene practises about oral health and an oral health education programme is needed to improve their knowledge and oral health as well.

Keywords: Attitude, Knowledge, Oral health.