Can poor oral health impact the quality of life of children attending Islamic boarding schools? A cross-sectional study conducted in Pakistan
1
Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Melbourne, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2809
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Oral diseases adversely affect the oral cavity and have a negative impact on overall quality of life 1. Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) measures perceived physical and mental health serving as a tool to assess how oral health influences the lives of children and their families 2. This paper explores OHRQoL and identified factors associated with it among children attending Islamic boarding schools in Pakistan.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in four Islamic boarding schools in Lahore, Pakistan, from May to June 2024. Children aged 12 to 17 years who could read and write in the local Urdu language were included and completed the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with OHRQoL, adjusting for potential confounders.
RESULTS:
Among the 534 participants, mean ± SD scores were calculated for the seven domains of OHRQoL: cumulative OHRQoL score was 99.4±23.44, oral health and wellbeing, 24.78±7.08; functional wellbeing, 19.32±4.76; social and emotional wellbeing, 24.64±7.77; school environment, 14.32±2.61; self-image, 14.46±5.91; treatment expectancies, 8.51±2.30; and overall health, 2.64±1.17. Healthy teeth [β 23.90 (95% CI 19.7–27.94)], healthy gums [22.1 (17.83-26.37)], absence of gingival bleeding [22.1 (17.83–26.37)], no toothache in the last 12 months [17.05 (12.58–21.52)], female gender [8.1 (3.41–12.80)], and seeking dental treatment [12.72 (8.66–16.78)] were all strongly associated with higher OHRQoL scores.
CONCLUSIONS:
Children demonstrated only moderate performance on the cumulative score and domains of OHRQoL, indicating room for improvement. Higher OHRQoL scores were associated with better oral health determinants. OHRQoL influences children’s oral health and health-seeking behaviour. Regular dental checkups and improved oral health maintenance could lead to an enhanced overall quality of life for these children.
Oral diseases adversely affect the oral cavity and have a negative impact on overall quality of life 1. Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) measures perceived physical and mental health serving as a tool to assess how oral health influences the lives of children and their families 2. This paper explores OHRQoL and identified factors associated with it among children attending Islamic boarding schools in Pakistan.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in four Islamic boarding schools in Lahore, Pakistan, from May to June 2024. Children aged 12 to 17 years who could read and write in the local Urdu language were included and completed the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with OHRQoL, adjusting for potential confounders.
RESULTS:
Among the 534 participants, mean ± SD scores were calculated for the seven domains of OHRQoL: cumulative OHRQoL score was 99.4±23.44, oral health and wellbeing, 24.78±7.08; functional wellbeing, 19.32±4.76; social and emotional wellbeing, 24.64±7.77; school environment, 14.32±2.61; self-image, 14.46±5.91; treatment expectancies, 8.51±2.30; and overall health, 2.64±1.17. Healthy teeth [β 23.90 (95% CI 19.7–27.94)], healthy gums [22.1 (17.83-26.37)], absence of gingival bleeding [22.1 (17.83–26.37)], no toothache in the last 12 months [17.05 (12.58–21.52)], female gender [8.1 (3.41–12.80)], and seeking dental treatment [12.72 (8.66–16.78)] were all strongly associated with higher OHRQoL scores.
CONCLUSIONS:
Children demonstrated only moderate performance on the cumulative score and domains of OHRQoL, indicating room for improvement. Higher OHRQoL scores were associated with better oral health determinants. OHRQoL influences children’s oral health and health-seeking behaviour. Regular dental checkups and improved oral health maintenance could lead to an enhanced overall quality of life for these children.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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