A Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Analysis of  Oral and Personal Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes,  and Practices Among Students in the Urban and  Suburban Areas of Coimbatore for the Prevention  of Communicable Diseases

T. Gopala  Krishnan; R.  Veerakumar; Prem Karthick  Bhupathy; V. Senthil  Prabhu; Pavani  Muddepalli; A.  Rajakumar; P. E. Chandra  Mouli; Deepika Ekambaram

T. Gopala Krishnan Reader, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu.
R. Veerakumar Professor, Department of Preventive and Pediatric dentistry, Priyadharshini Dental College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
Prem Karthick Bhupathy Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Priyadharshini Dental College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
V. Senthil Prabhu Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu.
Pavani Muddepalli Reader, Department Oral Medicine and Radiology, Priyadharshini Dental College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
A. Rajakumar Associate Professor Physical Medicine - Madras Medical College Govt. Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K.K Nagar, Chennai.
P. E. Chandra Mouli Professor and head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Venkateswara Dental College Chennai, Tamilnadu.
Deepika Ekambaram Senior lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sri Venkateswara Dental College Chennai, Tamilnadu.

Keywords: Personal Hygiene Knowledge, Communicable Diseases, Personal Hygiene Practices

Abstract

Introduction: India is undergoing an epidemiologic, demographic and health transition. The expectancy of life has increased, with a consequent rise in degenerative diseases of ageing and lifestyles. Nevertheless,
communicable diseases are still dominant and constitute major public health issues. There are several factors associated with the control of communicable diseases, such as hygiene, sanitation and safe drinking water, which are interlinked. Inadequate sanitary conditions and poor hygiene practices play major roles in the increased burden of communicable diseases.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the knowledge about communicable diseases and practices of proper hygiene measures, among school-going children in and around Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Methodology: A survey was conducted among the students of an English and Tamil medium school using a basic questionnaire.
Results: An overall lower percentile scores were obtained by children from Tamil medium schools.
Conclusion: There is a definite need for intense campaigns for the promotion of good oral and personal hygiene practices better aimed at the prevention of communicable diseases in local regional language
medium schools in India.

How to cite this article:
Krishnan T G, Veerakumar R, Bhupathy P K, Prabhu
V S, Muddepalli P, Rajakumar A, Mouli P E C,
Ekambaram D. A Cross-Sectional Epidemiological
Analysis of Oral and Personal Hygiene Knowledge,
Attitudes, and Practices Among Students in the
Urban and Suburban Areas of Coimbatore for
the Prevention of Communicable Diseases. J
Commun Dis. 2024;56(1):165-170.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202422

Author Biographies

R. Veerakumar, Professor, Department of Preventive and Pediatric dentistry, Priyadharshini Dental College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, Chennai, Tamilnadu.

he was helping in making the questions

Prem Karthick Bhupathy, Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Priyadharshini Dental College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, Chennai, Tamilnadu.

making questions and statistics

V. Senthil Prabhu, Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu.

helped in convining students from various schools

Pavani Muddepalli, Reader, Department Oral Medicine and Radiology, Priyadharshini Dental College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, Chennai, Tamilnadu.

statistics work

A. Rajakumar, Associate Professor Physical Medicine - Madras Medical College Govt. Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K.K Nagar, Chennai.

statistics