Experiences from a school-based oral health promotion programme in Wuhan City, PR China

Objectives. To evaluate the effect of a six-year oral health promotion programme for school children of Wuhan City, PR China.
Methods. The programme group (P-group) comprised 233 children who had just entered grade 1 (1989). The programme provided an oral health promotion programme, and 215 12-year-old children from three schools participated as a control group (C-group). After the 6-year period of the programme (1995), all of the children had a clinical examination according to the criteria of the WHO and responded to a structured questionnaire on dental health behaviour.
Results. The results showed that attitudes to dental care, regular tooth brushing habits, use of fluoridated toothpaste, gingival health and dental visits, frequencies of consuming sugary drinks/foods were improved in the p-group when compared with the C-group.
Conclusion. The school-based oral health promotion programme should be expanded.