Oral hygiene experience, knowledge of oral health and oral diseases and attitudes about oral health care : A questionnaire study among students of nursing in Zambia

Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate oral hygiene experience, knowledge of oral health and oral diseases and attitudes about oral health care among students of nursing at the School of Nursing in Livingstone, Zambia. The respondents were women and men in the ages between 20 and 43. A questionnaire consisting of 29 questions was handed out to 119 students. The results showed that the majority of the students brushed their teeth every day. Visits to dental clinics, however, were few. The most common reason for dental visits was pain. Most of the respondents knew about one or more HIV-related oral diseases, and the most common answer was oral candidosis. The overall knowledge of HIV/AIDS-related oral lesions was very high, and the majority of the respondents were interested to receive more information about the subject. The respondents had good knowledge in oral health and oral diseases, and the majority had a positive attitude concerning oral health care providers. The majority also considered collaboration between dental care and regular health care as essential. Although the knowledge about oral health was good, the result showed infrequent dental visits among the respondents.