Assessing the Level of Oral Health Knowledge and Practice among State University Students in Enugu State, Nigeria

Background: Oral health is often ignored, especially among young adults, posing risks to overall health and well-being. In Enugu State, Nigeria, like every other place in the globe, inadequate oral health knowledge and practices among university students are of great concern. Hence, this study focuses on state university students, recognizing their unique challenges such as study pressures and limited access to oral healthcare. Understanding their oral health knowledge and practices is essential for targeted interventions. Data generate can inform the state governments to prioritize oral health initiatives and allocate resources effectively within the region, addressing a critical public health concern. Aim: This study elucidated assessing level of Oral health knowledge and practice among State University students in Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods: The sample of the study comprised 786 students drawn through a multistage sampling selection method. A pre-tested, well-structured questionnaire was the main instrument of data collection for assessing level of Oral health knowledge and practice among State University students in Enugu State, Nigeria. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 was used for analysis. Results: Findings showed 34% of students possess inadequate oral health knowledge while lesser percentage of students 1% showed poor oral health practice compared to students’ total population. Whereas socio-economic status indeed plays a role in shaping students’ oral health knowledge and practices, potentially warranting targeted interventions to address disparities and promote oral health equity among university students. However, Chi-square analysis reveals demographic variables’ associations with knowledge and practice levels among students. Gender lacks significance in both areas (p=0.47 for knowledge; p=0.175 for practice). However, age significantly correlates with knowledge (p