Prevalence of Halitosis Among Students of Chandka Medical College, Larkana

Abstract

Objective: To assess prevalence and knowledge about halitosis among MBBS students at Chandka Medical College Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan.

Study Design: Quantitative / descriptive / cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Chandka Medical College Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan from March 2020 to May 2020 for a period of 3 months.

Materials and Methods: A questionnaire based study was carried out on a total of 700 3rd, 4th, final year students of MBBS. Inferential statistical tests (Chi-square, pearson) were administered using IBM SPSS v22.

Results: 42.38% respondents having prevalence of malodor. Among those who had prevalence of bad breath, approximately half (56.33%) were self-aware of their bad breath. Among 335 respondents, 80.59% were aware that they  should visit a dentist whereas majority were unaware of the medical term for bad breath i.e. meaning of Halitosis (65.67%, n=220). More than half of the respondents (61.79%) identified teeth & gum disease as the main cause of bad breath. The majority students reported using mouth washes and brushing their teeth twice a day.

Conclusion: The prevalence of halitosis among the students of Chandka Medical College was found to be 42.38 %.