Abstract:
Background: oral habits are common in infantile period normally and most of
them are started and finished, spontaneously. If they persist beyond the normal
age group, they will disturb the oral health of the individuals, cause psychological
stress and lead to esthetic problem of the person. They are caused by as
compensation to feeling of lost, rebel, attention seeking, imitation, fear, systemic
problem and occlusal interference as many pediatricians consensus. The
prevalence of this problem varies from population to population, regardless of
race, ethnicity or culture. The effects they cause depend on the intensity,
duration and frequency of the type of habit practiced.
Objective: the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral
habits in Jirenprimary school students, Jimma town, Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 03 to June o6, 2013
with systematic random sampling technique. The 238 sample was selected from a
total of 626 students. The data was collected using face-to-face interview guided
structured questioners, systematic observations and clinical examination using
disposable gloves and spatulas. The collected data was analyzed using manual
ways.
Results anddiscussion: The result shows that the prevalence of oral habits
in Jiren primary school students was 73.9%(176). Pencil/foreign body sucking
58.4%(139) was the leading oral habit practiced, followed by finger/thumb
sucking 24.8%(59). similarly, a study done in 4590 Indian school students shows
pencil biting as a leading oral habit practiced. The difference may be due to
environmental or genetic factors.
Conclusion and Recommendation: pencil/foreign body sucking was the
most prevalent oral habit practiced but mouth breathing was the least.JUSH
dentistry department should give OHE on the effects of oral habits to the school
students and the staffs.
