Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene (한국치위생학회지)

Korean Society of Dental Hygiene (한국치위생학회)
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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral healthcare among children and teachers in kindergarten and daycare centers

유치원과 어린이집 교사의 COVID-19 구강건강관리의 영향

  • Myoung-Hee, Kim (Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Eulji University) ;
  • Eun-Joo, Hong (Department of Early Childhood Education, Eulji University) ;
  • Yu-Jin, Kwon (Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Eulji University) ;
  • Young-Sun, Hwang (Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Eulji University)
  • Received : 2022.09.07
  • Accepted : 2022.10.13
  • Published : 2022.12.30
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Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in changes in the instructional methods used in kindergartens and daycare centers to prevent viral infections. This study aimed to investigate the changes in oral health care for children before and during COVID-19 and the perceptions of kindergarten and daycare center teachers about oral health care. Methods: The study subjects were 189 teachers of kindergartens and daycare centers in charge of children aged 3 to 5. The data for the analysis were collected through an online survey. Frequency analysis and the chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared to before COVID-19, the frequency of tooth brushing after lunch, the number of oral health education and regular oral examinations, and the rate of childcare teachers' experiences with oral health education had decreased during COVID-19. In addition, educators in kindergarten and daycare centers responded that an oral health officer at a public health center was the most desirable oral health educator. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the oral health care of children in kindergartens and daycare centers has declined. Efforts are needed to restore it by educating people about oral hygiene care and oral health education, both at home and in kindergartens and daycare centers.

연구목적: COVID-19로 인해 유치원과 어린이집에서의 교육 방식이 변화되고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 COVID-19 이전과 COVID-19 시기의 유아 구강건강관리 실태와 유치원 및 어린이집 교사들의 구강건강관리에 대한 인식을 조사하는 것이다. 연구방법: 연구 대상은 만 3-5세 아동을 담당하는 유치원 및 어린이집 교사 189명으로 온라인 설문조사를 통해 자료를 수집하였다. 통계분석은 빈도분석과 카이제곱 검정을 이용하였다. 연구결과: COVID-19 이전보다 COVID-19 이후 아동의 점심식사 후 칫솔 사용 횟수, 구강보건교육 및 정기 구강검진 횟수, 보육교사의 구강보건교육 경험률이 감소했다. 또한 유치원 및 어린이집 교육자들은 보건소 구강보건담당자가 가장 바람직한 구강보건교육자라고 응답하였다. 결론: COVID-19 팬데믹 이후 유치원과 어린이집에서 영유아의 구강건강관리가 취약해졌다. 구강위생과 구강건강교육을 통해 이를 회복시키려는 노력이 필요하다. 또한 구강건강교육자로서 치과위생사의 역할을 확대할 필요가 있다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2022R1F1A1063204).

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