Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the oral health behavior in the upper grades of elementary school in relation to oral health literacy and oral health knowledge. Methods: A survey on the general characteristics, oral health literacy, oral health knowledge, and oral health behavior was administered to students in the upper grades of five elementary schools in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, South Korea, from March to June, 2018. Finally, a total of 236 questionnaires were analyzed. Results: Oral health literacy in accordance with oral health behavior was high when oral health behavior was high (p<0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis of the general characteristics, oral health knowledge, oral health literacy, and oral health behavior were analyzed as follows: Y (oral health behavior) = 2.028 + 0.113 (oral health literacy) (p<0.05). Conclusions: To ensure appropriate oral health behavior among elementary school students, it is necessary to develop systematic programs in elementary schools to provide oral health education to increase oral health literacy and oral health knowledge.
Figures & Tables
Table 1. The general characteristics of the study subjects
