Cross-sectional study reveals significant gaps between oral health attitudes and preventive practices in male primary school students, highlighting the need for targeted education.
Key Points
To evaluate oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and identify associated sociodemographic determinants among male primary school students.
Conducted a school-based analytical cross-sectional study among N=430 male students aged 10–13 years across 8 randomly selected primary schools in Al Lith city, Saudi Arabia, using multistage cluster sampling.
Administered a validated, 42-item Arabic questionnaire capturing sociodemographic variables and assessing knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices.
Evaluated predictors of oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices using multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Knowledge deficits were widespread: only 8.4% knew the recommended timing for sweet consumption, 20.2% understood dental plaque, 28.6% recognized fluoride's role, and only 33.3% brushed for the recommended two minutes.
Multivariable logistic regression showed low household income was associated with better knowledge (AOR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.04–4.74; p = 0.039), divorced parental status was associated with positive attitudes (AOR = 5.40; 95% CI: 1.28–22.79; p = 0.022), and older age was associated with poorer practices (AOR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.55–0.93; p = 0.014).