Analisis Hubungan Pengetahuan Kesehatan Gigi dan Perilaku Oral Hygiene terhadap Status Karies Gigi: Studi pada Mahasiswa Prodi Kebidanan Semester 1 dan 3 di Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo

Oral health is an integral component of general health that is often overlooked among university students. Midwifery students, as future healthcare professionals, are expected to possess adequate knowledge and practice good oral hygiene behaviors. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between dental health knowledge, oral hygiene behavior, and dental caries status among midwifery students in the 1st and 3rd semester at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo. The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between dental health knowledge, oral hygiene behavior, and dental caries status among first- and third-semester midwifery students. An analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted. The sample consisted of 45 students (1st semester: n=24; 3rd semester: n=21) selected through total sampling. Dental health knowledge and oral hygiene behavior were measured using an online questionnaire (Google Form). Caries status was assessed using the DMFT index through odontogram examination. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney U tests. All respondents demonstrated good knowledge (100%). Oral hygiene behavior in the "fair" category was predominant in both the 1st semester (58.3%) and 3rd semester (45.5%). The mean DMFT score of the 1st semester (0.79±1.06) was lower than that of the 3rd semester (1.90±2.14). The Mann-Whitney test indicated that the difference in DMFT scores between groups was not statistically significant (p=0.062). No significant correlation was found between knowledge and DMFT (r=−0.151; p=0.323), nor between oral hygiene behavior and DMFT (r=0.284; p=0.059). Good dental health knowledge was not accompanied by proportionally good oral hygiene behavior or caries status. More practical behavioral interventions targeting oral health are needed among midwifery students.