The Effect of an Education Program on School Children Oral Health in Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Background

Oral health education programs have long been considered an essential part of oral health policies. This is important for reducing the risk of oral diseases through health enhancement and voluntary behavioral changes due to learning opportunities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of school-based oral health education program on oral health in school children in Sudan.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study was conducted at four governmental schools in Khartoum, Sudan, between August 2018, and March 2022. A total of 423 school children were randomly allocated into the control (n = 211) and study (n = 212) groups. An adapted questionnaire was administered to students before and after the intervention to assess their knowledge and practice of oral health. The study group participated in oral health education activities. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.

Results

The findings revealed that the mean knowledge at the pre-educational program was 9.3066 (SD = 3.91078) and the mean knowledge after the educational program was 21.2736 (SD = 2.13982). The scores indicated that the school children had significantly higher knowledge and practice scores after the oral health education program.

Conclusion

The study concluded that education program on oral health improved students’ oral health knowledge and practices. Imposing theoretical and practical lessons on oral and dental health in school curricula can motivate students to maintain oral health care, and this improves oral health status.

Keywords:

• education program
• school children
• oral health
• knowledge
• practice
• Sudan

Data Sharing Statement

Data for this study are available upon request. Interested individuals can contact the corresponding author (Galal Faisal Abdulqader Abdulla Albani) to obtain access to data.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the International University of Africa in Sudan (reference number IUA/FM/18/08/18-28). This study was conducted in compliance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, who were informed of their right to decline participation or withdraw from the study at any time. Written informed consent indicated that the participants had the right to decline or withdraw at any point during the study, which was obtained from all participants and from the parents or legal guardians of all participants under the age of 18 years. Furthermore, confidentiality was ensured for each participant.

Acknowledgments

The authors express their appreciation to the study participants.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no competing interests to be addressed.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the authors.