Oral health related knowledge and behaviour among nursing students at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate oral health knowledge and behaviour amongst nursing students in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital on respondents aged 17 to 40 years, using self administered structured questionnaire. Result: From oral health knowledge variables, only level of study, knowledge of calculus and orthodontics and role of fluoride in caries aetiology were significant. However, no oral health behaviour variable was significantly associated with oral health knowledge. About 11.0% of the respondents had visited the dentist within the last 12 months as against 68% that had never. About 53% brushed once daily, 43% brushed more than once a day and 2.7% brushed occasionally.

Conclusion: The respondents had good oral health knowledge, but further improvements, especially on oral health behaviour should be stepped up.


Keywords: Oral health; knowledge; behaviour; Nursing students; tertiary hospital

Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 12 (1) 2007: pp.13-17