Self-Reported Teeth Health in Schoolchildren in Kerala, India
Author Information
Author(s): David Jamil, Åstrøm Anne N, Wang Nina J
Hypothesis
The study aims to assess the prevalence and correlates of self-reported state of teeth in 12-year-old schoolchildren in Kerala, India.
Conclusion
A quarter of 12-year-olds reported having bad teeth, which was associated with poor school performance and other oral health issues.
Supporting Evidence
- 23% of schoolchildren reported the state of teeth as bad.
- Self-reported bad state of teeth was associated with poor school performance (OR = 2.5).
- Children dissatisfied with appearance of teeth were more likely to report bad teeth status (OR = 4.2).
Takeaway
About 1 in 4 kids in Kerala think their teeth are bad, and this is linked to how well they do in school and other mouth problems.
Methodology
Cross-sectional survey using clinical examination and questionnaire.
Potential Biases
Children may provide socially desirable answers, affecting the accuracy of self-reports.
Limitations
Potential reporting bias and lack of recall may have led to underreporting of bad teeth.
Participant Demographics
57% boys, majority from rural areas with a middle socio-economic background.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI for ORs reported in the study.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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