Ações extensionistas em saúde bucal na rede pública de ensino de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil

Abstract

Objective: School is a favorable environment for disseminating and sharing health information. This study aimed to report the extension actions promoted by the “Oral Health Promotion” Project in two public schools in Belo Horizonte/MG. Methods: A total of 105 schoolchildren aged between 8 and 15 years participated in the study. The project team was made up of students and professors from UFMG. Three interventions were carried out with educational information about oral health. The students answered a questionnaire to evaluate their daily habits and knowledge about oral health, before and after the interventions. Descriptive analyses, McNemar and Wilcoxon tests (p < 0.05) were performed. Results: The interventions were able to improve students' knowledge and attitudes about oral health. In relation to the first assessment, there was a significant reduction in the reported amount of toothpaste placed on the toothbrush (p < 0.001). Furthermore, schoolchildren began to use dental floss more frequently, there was a reduction in the frequency of eating sweets and less interest in using piercings and fake orthodontic devices. Conclusion: Extension activities resulted in greater knowledge of students about oral health and highlight the need for continued actions so that good health habits are established.