Oral health issue and oral hygiene practice among middle school children and barriers to accessing oral health services in ndjamena,chad

Africa have witnessed an increasing tendency of dental caries among children, especially in the 12-15 age group. This study aims to assess the oral health issues among middle school children, to determine oral hygiene practices, and to assess if there are barriers that prevent them from accessing oral health care services in N'Djamena, Chad. A cross-sectional study design and quantitative method was conducted from May to June 2022 in Middle Schools of N'Djamena, Chad. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for data Analysis. Results were presented using frequencies and percentages, as well as bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed and those variables with a p -value < 0.05 was counted to be statistically significant. A total of 1,123 middle school students, participated in this research in N'Djamena, Chad. The respondent's ages were in the range of 12-15 years, with a mean of 14.34 ±0.83. We found 51.2% of the participant students suffered from toothache. Of those who complained of oral tissue swelling 54.1%. The most frequently reported oral issue was dental caries, with 63.5% (p < 0.05). Those who use sugar twice a day were 2 times more likely to have tooth decay than others (OR=2.156CL=0.066-0.369; p =0.000). A total of 712(63%) had poor oral hygiene practice and only 411 (37%) had access to the services (p< 0.05). More than half participants have oral health issue (56.3%). Food consumption practices affect dental caries, (89.9%) of those who used sugar complained of dental caries. Two third of the participants had poor oral hygiene practices and only 37% have access to oral health services. Oral health issues (toothache, swelling of oral tissues, dental caries), oral hygiene practice and the barriers to oral health service was significantly associated with sociodemographic variable, type of school, district, and availability of tap water at home, among middle school children in N'Djamena, Chad (p < 0.05)