Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Oral Health among Undergraduate Students At The University Of Jos, Nigeria.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Oral health is an important component of general wellbeing, yet poor oral hygiene remains common and preventable. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health and hygiene among undergraduate students at the University of Jos. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2024 among 186 consenting undergraduate students from the Faculties of Law, Management Sciences and Natural Sciences. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization oral health survey guide. Data were analysed using Epi Info version 3.7.2.1. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used where appropriate, with a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 24.6 ± 5.1 years. Overall, 56.6% had good knowledge, 25.1% fair knowledge and 18.3% poor knowledge. Positive attitude was observed in 82.1% of respondents, while 64.3% demonstrated good practice. Knowledge was significantly associated with practice (P = 0.013), but not with attitude (P = 0.544). The association between attitude and practice was not significant (P = 1.000). Among the faculties, knowledge was significantly associated with practice only in Management Sciences (P = 0.039). Conclusion: Although knowledge and attitude were generally good, practice was less consistent. Targeted oral health education and reinforcement of preventive behaviours are needed, especially for groups with weaker practice patterns. Keywords: oral health; oral hygiene; knowledge; attitude; practice; undergraduates.
Source: Afrimedic Journal
Language: English
Subfield: General Dentistry
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220099457