s: first, to describe the reported oral health behavior of grade- 1 Romanian schoolchildren; second, to assess the level of oral health knowledge and attitudes among the mothers before the children were enrolled in the program; and third, to record the knowledge and attitudes towards prevention of oral disease and oral health education among the schoolteachers. The results of the study were to be used to aid the planning of an oral health education program.
Study population and methods
The study took place in 1993 and included children in the first grade (7 years) in two urban areas: the capital, Bucharest, and Iasi, located in the northern province of the country. These sites were chosen as focal points for establishment of demonstration projects. At each site, three representative primary schools were selected for the data collection. The study population comprised 322 mothers and children, 89% of the original sample. Data were collected by means of personal interviews performed by two trained dentists on the basis of a structured questionnaire. All interviews were under- taken in the schools, and the mothers were not informed about the professional background of the interviewer. The questions concerned oral health