Oral Health Literacy and Its Associated Factors of Primary School Students in Chiang Rai, Thailand
Objectives: To explore the level of oral health literacy (OHL) and identify factors related to the OHL of primary school students in Muang District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2022, involving 351 Grade 6 students aged 11-12 years and their parents from 13 schools. Participants were selected using quota random sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires, with independent variables categorized according to Sørensen’s classification: personal factors, situational factors, and societal and environmental factors. Additionally, the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Dentistry for Primary School Children (P-TOFHLiD) was used to assess OHL. Data analysis was performed in three stages: descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multilevel logistic regression analysis.
Results: 55.8% of the sample had adequate OHL. Multilevel logistic regression further revealed that individual-level factors were significant predictors of adequate OHL. Students with a GPA of 3.00 or higher OR=2.386, 95% CI: 1.368-5.882), parental income (OR 2.233, 95% CI: 1.244-4.008), and participation in academic clubs (OR=3.409, 95% CI: 1.139-10.206) were associated with adequate OHL. School-level factors did not show a statistically significant relationship with OHL.
Conclusions: The findings highlight the impact of academic achievement, family socioeconomic status, and learning environments on students’ OHL. These insights can guide policymakers in designing targeted school-based OHL programs and inclusive, skill-based communication strategies for diverse student populations.
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