Oral Health Knowledge Correlated With Behaviours of Secondary School Students Focusing on Gender and Age in Awka Education Zone

Abstract

Oral health is one of major aspects of an individual’s general health and it is also a state of being free from any form of oral disorder. Unfortunately, many young people in developing countries are known to suffer disproportionately from the burden of oral conditions, trauma and diseases. But, having adequate knowledge and good practice of oral health are essential for a healthy oral health status. Hence, the researcher’s motivation to take up this study to ascertain the level of oral health knowledge and behavior among students in Awka Education Zone with 3 research questions and 3 hypothesis serving as guide. Relevant related literature were reviewed guided by conceptual framework, theoretical framework, review of empirical studies and summary of reviewed related literature. The study employed correlational survey design aimed at obtaining respondents opinion on the subject matter and was carried out within 6 months (November 2024 to April, 2025) The study population comprised of 6,274 SS2 students from 65 schools and the sample size of 375 students from 10 selected schools of both gender (150 Male students and 225 Female students), aged 13 – 18 years using Yamane, 1967 standard formula ±5% with Stratified simple random sampling technique of balloting with replacement. The instrument for collection of data were OHKQ and SBQ which were subjected to validation. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using SPSS version 25 and hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data generated were presented by the use of tables according to research questions and hypothesis. The data analyzed with Pearson product moment Correlation showed that age of the student has a moderately positive significance in students at age 15 r (375 = 0.378 p =0.002 ≤ 0.05) indicating a significant correlation between the two variables of oral health knowledge and students behaviour with 95% confidence level (CI) which ranges from 0 to 0. And, the Regression ANOVA analysis correlation moderated by gender (p = .328> 0.05), knowledge and behaviour (p = .001> .05). Conclusion: The outcome of this study shows that among others, there is a moderate and significant positive relationship between the variables amongst secondary school students’ in Awka Education Zone, which aligns with educational expectations.