Content Analysis of Iran Primary School Books in 2014-2015 in Relation to Oral Health Topics

Authors

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate oral health issues in primary school textbooks in Iran.
 
Methods: The contents of Iran primary school textbooks in the academic year 2014-2015 were assessed in accordance to oral health-related teachings. Oral health topics of 39 textbooks (pictures and texts) were retrieved and analyzed using content analysis method and presented by figures and tables.
 
Results: In whole, 25 oral health-related lessons were found .The textbooks of the first grade contained the highest (10) and those of the fourth grade had the lowest (0) number of oral health lessons. Among Oral health-related issues, the largest number (12) of lessons was about tooth brushing, while prevention of gingival disease comprised the least number (1). Some important oral health issues such as the role of healthy teeth and gums in health of other parts of the body were not discussed in the textbooks.
 
Conclusion: According to this study, the potential of primary school textbooks in delivering oral health messages has been neglected in Iran. Taking the critical importance of school ages into account, incorporating health issues in textbooks should be more strongly emphasized.

Keywords


1. Seyednozadi M, Hashemi H. Health and disease. In: Comprehensive book of public health 1th ed. Tehran: Arjmand; 2007. Persian 2. Hobdell M, Petersen PE, Clarkson J, Johnson N. Global goals for oral health 2020. International Dental Journal. 2003; 53: 285–8. 3. Kazemian R, Ghasemi H, Movahhed T, Kazemian A. Health education in primary school textbooks in Iran in school year 2010-2011. J Dent (Tehran). 2014;11(5):536-44. Persian 4. Rafeifar S, Ahmadzadehasl M, Sharifi M. Comprehensive system of health education to patient. 1th ed. Tehran: Pazhouheshgaran–e- Bedon-Marz; 2005. Persian 5. Word Health Organization (WHO). Life skills education in schools, programme on mental health. [cited 2016 Aug 22]. Available from:URL:http://unipd-centrodirittiumani.it/public/docs/31181_adolscence.pdf 6. Word Health Organization (WHO). Skills for Health. Skills-based health education including life skills: An important component of a Child-Friendly/Health-Promoting School. [cited 2016 Jun 15]. Available from:http://www.who.int/school_youth_health/media/en/sch_skills4health_03.pdf 7. Nyandindi U, Milen A, Palokas T, Robinson V. Impact of oral health education on primary school children before and after teachers' training in Tanzania. Health Promot Int. 2015; 11(3):193-201. 8. Chandrashekar BR, Suma S, Kiran K, Manjunath BC. The use of school teachers to promote oral hygiene in some secondary school students at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India: A short term prospective pilot study. J Family Community Med. 2012; 19(3): 184–9. 9. Nomoto M, Nonaka D, Mizoue T, Kobayashi J, Jimba M. Content analysis of school textbooks on health topics: a systematic review. Biosci Trends. 2011;5(2):61-8. 10. Abedini M, Asadnia M, Aghili R. The status of health education in Iranian Elementary school books. Journal of Health and Development. 2013; 1(4):245-53. Persian 11. Kirkwood TS. Our global age requires global education: clarifying definitional ambiguities. The Social Studies. 2001; 92(1):10-5. 12. Imani M, Hosseini Tabatabaei M, Rakhshani F. Knowledge about students’s health needs among teachers of Zahedan primary schools. Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (Tabib-e-Shargh). 2004;6(3):225-30. Persian 13. Cochrane N, Poureslami H. Necessity of water fluoridation in Iran: A review on water fluoridation and prevention of dental caries. J Oral Health Oral Epidemiol. 2014; 3(1):1-7. 14. Demmer RT, Desvarieux M. Periodontal infections and cardiovascular disease: the heart of the matter. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;137 Suppl:14S-20S; quiz 38S. 15. Milsom KM, Tickle M, Humphris GM, Blinkhorn AS. The relationship between anxiety and dental treatment experience in 5-year-old children. Br Dent J. 2003;194(9):503-6.