Effectiveness of a one-year oral health educational and preventive program in improving oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practices of a group of visually impaired Egyptian children, their teachers and caregivers

Abstract

Visual impairment is major global public health problem that is increasing in developing countries. VIC face many challenges to oral health care, which results in emotional and financial burden on families. Unfortunately, few researches were concerned with educational and preventive programs for VIC especially in Egypt. Subsequently, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a specially designated educational and preventive program on group of VIEC to improve their oral health knowledge and practices, and prevent oral diseases. Added to this reporting any significant gender influence on oral health behaviors and attitudes. Moreover, their teachers and caregivers were enrolled in an educational program to improve their oral health knowledge and practices. A total of 60 VIEC with age range from 8 to 14 years attending residential schools were enrolled in the current program. They were divided equally into two groups, group A girls and group B boys. A brief explanation about the program were given to all the subjects before enrolling in the study. A written informed consent was obtained from children’s caregivers in addition to children’s verbal acceptance, which was recorded before conducting the study. Oral health knowledge assessment was performed by the researcher for VIEC, their teachers and caregivers. A specially designated questionnaire was used to assess their oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and oral health knowledge.