Development of oral health educational intervention in selected Primary Schools in Tshwane District, South Africa
1
Public Health and Health Systems, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The study set out to design, implement, and evaluate an oral health educational intervention aimed at improving the knowledge and behaviours of primary school children in selected schools within the Tshwane District, South Africa. The work was motivated by persistent evidence of preventable oral diseases among children and the limited availability of accessible, child-centered oral health information.
METHODS:
To address these gaps, the study adopted a quasi-experimental design, allowing for the assessment of changes in knowledge, practices, and dietary behaviours before and after the intervention in a real school environment. Data was collected in two phases. The first involved baseline assessments using structured questionnaires administered to children and their parents to capture their initial oral health knowledge, hygiene routines, and dietary habits. The intervention consisted of two core outputs: a set of age-appropriate oral health educational materials for use in school and at home, oral health screening for children with a brushing program and a mobile application specifically developed to extend learning beyond the classroom. The application was designed to reinforce daily brushing habits, simplify oral health messages through interactive features and offer parents a resource for guiding their children.
RESULTS:
The findings showed notable gains in children’s knowledge scores, clearer understanding of plaque control, and improved self-reported brushing practices. The positive response to both the educational materials and the mobile application indicates that blended digital and school-based approaches may enhance oral health promotion efforts in under-resourced communities.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study demonstrates that structured, context-sensitive educational interventions supported by digital tools can strengthen preventive oral health behaviours among primary school learners. The findings highlight the value of integrating oral health education into school programmes and adopting innovative technologies to sustain long-term behaviour change
The study set out to design, implement, and evaluate an oral health educational intervention aimed at improving the knowledge and behaviours of primary school children in selected schools within the Tshwane District, South Africa. The work was motivated by persistent evidence of preventable oral diseases among children and the limited availability of accessible, child-centered oral health information.
METHODS:
To address these gaps, the study adopted a quasi-experimental design, allowing for the assessment of changes in knowledge, practices, and dietary behaviours before and after the intervention in a real school environment. Data was collected in two phases. The first involved baseline assessments using structured questionnaires administered to children and their parents to capture their initial oral health knowledge, hygiene routines, and dietary habits. The intervention consisted of two core outputs: a set of age-appropriate oral health educational materials for use in school and at home, oral health screening for children with a brushing program and a mobile application specifically developed to extend learning beyond the classroom. The application was designed to reinforce daily brushing habits, simplify oral health messages through interactive features and offer parents a resource for guiding their children.
RESULTS:
The findings showed notable gains in children’s knowledge scores, clearer understanding of plaque control, and improved self-reported brushing practices. The positive response to both the educational materials and the mobile application indicates that blended digital and school-based approaches may enhance oral health promotion efforts in under-resourced communities.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study demonstrates that structured, context-sensitive educational interventions supported by digital tools can strengthen preventive oral health behaviours among primary school learners. The findings highlight the value of integrating oral health education into school programmes and adopting innovative technologies to sustain long-term behaviour change
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
