AWARENESS, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS HALITOSIS- A CASE STUDY AT COLLAGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY JAHUN, JIGAWA STATE NIGERIA

Globally halitosis has been associated with stigma, social insecurity, anxiety, depression and symptoms of obsessive disorder among those affected. Research has shown that there is no universal agreement about what diagnosis criteria and what detection method should be used to define which individual have halitosis and which do not have. The study was conducted to assess awareness attitude and practice toward halitosis among students of collage of health sciences and technology Jahun Jigawa state. The study design adopted was a descriptive and cross sectional type. 305 students were randomly selected from different departments which were broken down into different strata's. Structured questionnaire were employed as tool for data collection containing questions on the awareness, attitude and practices of the respondents towards halitosis. The results depicts that about 68.9% of the respondent were aware of the condition Halitosis. Majority of the respondents also agreed that poor oral hygiene can lead to halitosis while 44.3% were of the opinion that halitosis can lead to illness unspecified. On the attitude towards people with halitosis, majority (60.7%) ascertain that they do not isolate people suffering from the condition. Also on the practice of respondents towards the condition, 75.4% chew gum and sweet to manage halitosis. The study revealed that respondents were aware of halitosis as well as measures towards managing the condition. The study therefore recommends that brushing of teeth regularly and visiting dental clinics should be encouraged as means of curbing halitosis in the community.