Factors Predicting Oral Health Behaviors of Adolescents in Shushtar

Abstract

Abstract Background: Tooth decay and other oral health (periodontal) diseases have a high global prevalence and are considered an important economic burden. Oral and dental hygiene is so important for the adolescent age group that the World Health Organization has declared tooth decay as one of the most important health problems in the world. Therefore, this study aims to determine the predictors of oral health behaviors of teenagers in Shushtar. Methods: The current research is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study that was conducted in Summer 2022 on 415 teenagers of the first secondary school in Shushtar. The data collection method was two standard questionnaires. The questionnaire included demographic information and questions related to measuring awareness, attitude, performance, and self-efficacy regarding the oral health behaviors of adolescents. The data was analyzed in spss22 statistical software and using descriptive statistics and ANOVA, T-test, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. Results: The average score of knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy in brushing teeth, self-efficacy in flossing, self-efficacy in going to the dentist, and adolescents' performance on oral health behaviors are respectively 5.72 ± 2.06,36.40±6.36, 25.40±7.49, 6.06±14.15, 5.59±15.80 and 14.01±4.02. There has been a significant correlation between knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and performance. Also, there was a significant relationship between awareness, attitude, self-efficacy, performance, and brushing frequency (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this research, the lack of awareness, performance, self-efficacy, and good attitude of teenagers regarding oral health, and on the other hand, the importance of the adolescent age group and the formation of oral and dental health behaviors and its impact on Adulthood, increasing the knowledge of teenagers and consequently improving health behaviors through holding educational classes in schools is suggested.