IntrOductIOnOral diseases affect nearly 3.9 billion people globally [1]. To overcome the global burden of oral diseases community oriented preventive and oral health promotional programs have been emphasized and prioritized by WHO to the general curative approach [2,3].Manipur, a north eastern state in India, inhabited by multiethnic communities is one such marginalized area. Out of the total population of 2,721,756 of Manipur, 58.9% live in the valley and the remaining 41.1% in the remote hilly regions [4,5]. Oral health behavior data in Manipur is scarce and is urgently needed for planning and evaluating health promotional programs. Oral health problems directly or indirectly negatively impact the quality of life [6]. Oral affliction, like pain experience, problems with eating, chewing, smiling and communication due to missing, discolored or damaged teeth restricts activities in school/college, work, mood, enjoyment leading to loss of many potential hours [7]. Moreover, minors are the most vulnerable to behavioral risk factors influencing oral health like frequent consumption of sugar rich diet/drinks, use of tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol [8].Literature is replete with data regarding high prevalence of substance abuse, essentially tobacco, among children and adolescents in Manipur [9-12]. Oddly, oral health behavior data of Manipuris has barely been explored. Given the scenario there was an exigent need for a KAP survey related to oral health of Manipuri adolescents. The surveillance of oral health knowledge, attitude and self-care practice may help the public health administrators in specification of oral health messages/policies as well as development of behavioral modifications strategies relevant to this area [13,14].
AImThe current study along with the observation of KAP also aims to verify that whether higher knowledge and attitude has a direct co-relation with positive health care practice in the given set up. Moreover, the relationship of KAP and socio-demographic factors regarding oral health has also been studied.
mAtErIALS And mEtHOdSThis descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on Manipuri adolescents with age 15-18 years. Out of the nine administrative districts of Manipur, five are in the hilly areas and four are in the valley [4]. As the state inhabits multiethnic groups the study area included all the nine districts to provide a unique opportunity for assessing oral health of people with different ethnic background inhabiting different areas [4].Considering an estimate of 50% knowledge level (as the prevalence of knowledge of oral health in this community was unknown), with 5% precision of error, 95% confidence interval,
