EFFECT OF 2 PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS ON ORAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND HABITS AMONG BRAZILIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN

The effect upon dental health knowledge and dental health behavior of a comprehensive and a less comprehensive preventive program was compar ed in a 3-yr follow up study. The comprehensive program included activ e participation of the students and parental involvement. The study gr oup consisted of 186 Brazilian schoolchildren 13 yr of age at the star t of the program. A reference group from another school of similar soc ioeconomic level was included in the analyses. The data were collected from questionnaires filled in by the children under surveillance afte r the completion of the program. Significant differences in knowledge as well as in reported behavior were observed. The children enrolled i n the comprehensive program in general scored higher in dental health knowledge than did those in the less comprehensive program. However, t he latter group of children seemed to have acquired more correct knowl edge during the period than had the control and reference children. Si milar results were obtained concerning reported dental health behavior .