Survey of oral health behaviors and its associated factors in female students of primary schools in Zabol based on health belief model

Oral diseases are one of the most prevalent human diseases, especially among the children and more than 99% of people suffer these diseases. Factors that are associated with promotion of effective behaviors have an important role in reducing these diseases. Associated factors with oral health behaviors among female primary students were investigated in the current study, in Zabol, based on the health belief model. In this descriptive-analytical study that was conducted in 1390, 287 female primary students of Zabol were randomly selected and studied. Data were collected with completing the questionnaire that was designed based on health belief model. justifiability was determined through expert panel and reliability by Cronbach`s alpha (N=30, =0.77). SPSS18 software was used for data analysis. According to results, the mean score of student`s behavior was 3.72 from 10 and approximately 30% of them performed the desired behaviors. Among studied variables in this model, there was a significant correlation between perceived barriers and self-efficacy with the behavior. Also the main source of student's information was their parents. Oral health behaviors in the studied population were poor. According to the results, for improving oral health behaviors by training programs in the students, some factors such as increasing self-efficacy, overcoming the obstacles and considering the role of parents are necessary.