Quality of Education Linked to Adolescent Oral Health Behaviours

Strategic Insights -

New research from the Federal University of Goias suggests that schools with higher quality of education may have students with unhealthy oral health-related behaviours, particularly with regards to toothbrushing and sweets consumption. The study, which used data from the 2015 Brazilian National Adolescent School-Based Health Survey, found that adolescents from public schools in cities with higher education quality scores were more likely to have low toothbrushing frequency and high frequency of sweets consumption.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included a sample of 23,674 adolescents from public schools in 27 Brazilian state capitals.
  • The study found that the prevalence of unhealthy oral health-related behaviours among adolescents was high, with:

+ 6.7% of adolescents having low daily toothbrushing frequency.

+ 41.5% of adolescents having high weekly sweets consumption.

+ 28.5% of adolescents having high weekly soft-drink consumption.

+ 31.2% of adolescents having low frequency of annual dental visits.

  • Cities with higher education quality scores were more likely to have students with low toothbrushing frequency and high frequency of sweets consumption.
  • The study suggests that improving education quality in schools may be an effective strategy for promoting healthy oral health behaviours among adolescents.

Statistics:

  • 23,674 adolescents from public schools in 27 Brazilian state capitals were included in the study sample.
  • 6.7% of adolescents had low daily toothbrushing frequency (95% CI 6.0-7.4).
  • 41.5% of adolescents had high weekly sweets consumption (95% CI 40.3-42.7).
  • 28.5% of adolescents had high weekly soft-drink consumption (95% CI 27.2-29.9).
  • 31.2% of adolescents had low frequency of annual dental visits (95% CI 30.1-32.3).

Sources:

  • [1] NewsRx. Federal University of Goias Reports Findings in Pediatric Dentistry (Quality of education and adolescents' oral health-related behaviours: a multilevel analysis). Education Letter. March 30, 2022; p 113.