Title: Impact of COVID-19 on the maintenance of student’s dental health in Islamabad, Pakistan: citywide online questionnaire survey

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives. Lockdowns of various severity and school closures have caused the pandemic to be associated with changes in maintenance of dental health and attitudes towards dental health, particularly in students as they stayed at home and learning was online. The purpose of my study is to evaluate the extent to which these changes took place in students. I will survey students studying in the city of Islamabad, Pakistan. For this study, an online cross-sectional questionnaire consisting of 20 questions will be conducted to a random sample of 200 students studying in schools, colleges, and universities in Pakistan. Frequency of eating and drinking, frequency of toothbrushing, flossing and use of mouthwash, occurrence of bad breath and gingival bleeding, presence of symptoms of oral ulcers, postponement of oral health care practices, experience of oral signs of stress and the need for and access to dental health care during the pandemic will be assessed. The results of this study will clarify the effects of the pandemic on changes in maintenance of dental health and attitudes towards dental health in students at a time when educational institutions were shut to stop the spread and education was from-home. The results will also be helpful in analyzing the post-pandemic attitudes towards oral health and oral hygiene and in clarifying the need for oral health education amongst students to prevent oral disease and to promote oral health.

Biography:

Romaisa Arshad is a student of Public Health pursuing a BSc in Public Health from Bahria University, Islamabad. Romaisa has done her Advanced Level (A-level) in Biology, Chemistry and Physics from Roots IVY International Schools and is studying on an Advanced-Merit Scholarship based on her grades. Her current CGPA is 3.9. She has been involved in health education and health advocacy work in her college and university both and is currently working on her university’s own Public Health Society to ensure health education among the students and faculty. Romaisa runs her own social media blog named ‘Figuring out Public Health’ for the purpose of sharing health information and fighting misinformation. Romaisa has volunteered for the Pink Ribbon twice, running a Breast Cancer Awareness and Fundraiser drive in 2 educational institutes of Pakistan, also a member of Amnesty International. Her last research project was on Digital Health in Pakistan- how the lay person is adapting to the current digital health ecosystem. Romaisa grew up in Rawalpindi city of Pakistan,  is passionate about public health, health promotion, advocacy and social mobilization and is determined to make a positive impact on her surroundings.