The Impact of Aggression on the Traumatic Dental Injury among School Children (11-12 Years Old) in Baghdad City, Iraq
Author(s): Shahad Jamal* and Nada Jafer MH Radhi
Abstract
Background: Schools provide an effective forum to enhance general as well as oral health awareness among children. The unsafe situation negatively influences on the psychology of the children and increase their aggression behavior. This aggression behavior increases the probability of traumatic dental injuries.
Aim of study: This study was conducted among (11-12) year’s old primary schoolchildren in Baghdad city in order to estimate impact of aggression on traumatic dental injuries.
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The study was carried out in the Baghdad city among private (574) and public (1026) primary schools. The aggression behavior adopted from Orpinas et al. and dental trauma were assessed according to Ellis classification.
Results: The aggression behaviors were more in males than in females, as well as higher percentage recorded in public schools than in private schools. The traumatic dental injuries were highly associated with males. Simple enamel fracture was the most common type of injury.
Discussion: Males showed significant higher aggressive score than females, for each type of studied aggressive behavior. This may due to biological factors; girls' frontal lobes develop earlier than boys, allowing them to self-restrain. It is in agreement with Italian study found that boys obtained higher aggression score than female. This study shows significant differences in the occurrence of traumatic dental injuries between genders, males were more affected with traumatic dental injuries than females had. The present survey is in agreement with these studies as it reported higher prevalence of males than females. This may due to males frequently engage in contact sports and intense/competitive activities, which increase the risk for accidents.
Conclusion: Regarding gender, males were more affected with aggression behavior and traumatic dental injuries than females.