Orofacial and Dental Sports-related Injury Profile in School Going Children of National Capital Region, India

• Published in: Journal of international oral health Vol. 8; no. 7; p. 795
• Main Authors: Solanki, Neeraj, Kaur, Gurpreet, Thukral, Rishi, Raval, Rushik, Agarwal, Amith, Monga, Shamim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mumbai Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2016; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Confidence intervals; Elementary school students; Injuries; Pediatric research; Physical education; Private schools; Risk factors; Sports injuries; Statistics; Students; Studies; Teeth; Velocity; India
• ISSN: 0976-7428; 0976-1799
• DOI: 10.2047/jioh-08-07-10

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with the occurrence of sports-related orofacial injuries among 8-11 years old school children in National Capital Region, India. It included a stratified random sample of 2000 boys and girls attending various private schools. The sample size was calculated using a 95% confidence interval level; statistical significance was preset at 5% and a sample power of 98% was achieved. Data were collected through personal interview using a questionnaire. Data pertaining to the number and type of injury encountered was collected. The risk factors for sports injuries evaluated in this study were sex, use of protective equipment, velocity, and intensity of sports played; the level of coaching; the activity level and exposure time; the focus of attention; participation in contact/non-contact sports. Data were summarized and analyzed using the statistical software SPSS version 18.0. The prevalence of sports-related orofacial injuries was found to be 26.65%. All the risk factors evaluated in the study did yield statistically significant differences among the participants except sex, intensity of the game and exposure time. The prevalence of sports-related orofacial injuries in national capital region is high and protective measures need to be strictly enforced so that the incidence of injuries associated with the significant risk factors can be reduced.