scholarly journals Oral Health Status and Patterns of Dental Service Utilization of Adolescents in Lesotho, Southern Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Jessani ◽  
Faeq Quadri ◽  
Abdul El-Rabbany ◽  
Kirsten Hooper ◽  
Hyun Ja Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Dental Service ◽  
Treatment Needs

Abstract Objectives: To identify the unmet dental treatment needs and patterns of dental service utilization by adolescents in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Southern Africa, and characterize the best predictors for perceived oral health status and dental visits for these adolescents. Method: A self-reported 40-item oral health survey was administered, and clinical oral examinations were conducted in public schools in Maseru from August 10 to August 25, 2016. Associations between psychosocial factors with oral health status and dental service utilization were evaluated using simple, bivariate and multivariate regressions. Results: Five hundred and twenty-six survey responses and examinations were gathered. The mean age of participants was 16.4 years of age, with a range between 12 and 19 years of age. More than two thirds (68%; n=355) of participants were female. The majority reported their quality of life (84%) and general health to be good/excellent (81%). While 95% reported that oral health was very important, only 11% reported their personal dental health as excellent. Three percent reported having a regular family dentist, with the majority (85%) receiving dental care in a hospital or medical clinic setting; only 14% had seen a dental professional within the previous 2 years. The majority of participants did not have dental insurance (78%). Clinical examination revealed tooth decay on 30% of mandibular and maxillary molars; 65% had some form of gingivitis. In multivariate analysis, not having dental education and access to a regular dentist were the strongest predictors of not visiting a dentist within the last year. Conclusion: Our results suggest that access to oral health care is limited in Lesotho. Dental decay on molars was prevalent. Further patient oral health education and regular dental care may make an impact on this population.

scholarly journals Oral Health Status and Patterns of Dental Service Utilization of Adolescents in Lesotho, Southern Africa

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Abbas Jessani ◽  
Mir Faeq Ali Quadri ◽  
Pulane Lefoka ◽  
Abdul El-Rabbany ◽  
Kirsten Hooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Dental Service ◽  
Treatment Needs

This study aimed to characterize the best predictors for unmet dental treatment needs and patterns of dental service utilization by adolescents in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Southern Africa. A self-reported 40-item oral health survey was administered, and clinical oral examinations were conducted in public schools in Maseru from August 10 to August 25, 2016. Associations between psychosocial factors with oral health status and dental service utilization were evaluated using simple, bivariate, and multivariate regressions. Five hundred and twenty-six survey responses and examinations were gathered. The mean age of student participants was 16.4 years of age, with a range between 12 and 19 years of age. More than two thirds (68%; n = 355) of participants were female. The majority reported their quality of life (84%) and general health to be good/excellent (81%). While 95% reported that oral health was very important, only 11% reported their personal dental health as excellent. Three percent reported having a regular family dentist, with the majority (85%) receiving dental care in a hospital or medical clinic setting; only 14% had seen a dental professional within the previous two years. The majority of participants did not have dental insurance (78%). Clinical examination revealed tooth decay on 30% of mandibular and maxillary molars; 65% had some form of gingivitis. In multivariate analysis, not having dental education and access to a regular dentist were the strongest predictors of not visiting a dentist within the last year. Our results suggest that access to oral health care is limited in Lesotho. Further patient oral health education and regular dental care may make an impact on this population.

Oral Health Status and Practices of 5 and 12 Year Old Indian Tribal Children

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinav Singh ◽  
MP Bharathi ◽  
Peter Sequeira ◽  
Shashidhar Acharya ◽  
Meghashyam Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Dental Fluorosis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Sugar Consumption ◽  
Treatment Needs ◽  
Periodontal Index

Objectives: To assess oral health status and practices of 5- and 12-year-old Tribal school children.Methods: A total of 418, 5-year-old children and 327, 12-year-old children were enrolled. Information on demographic characteristics of participants along with oral health behavior was collected. Clinical data were collected on dental fluorosis, periodontal status, dental caries and treatment needs. Dean's index criterion was used to assess dental fluorosis. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) for periodontal conditions and Dentition status and treatment needs for dental caries were recorded. Results: Between meal sugar consumption was high (100%). None of the children in both the age groups had visited trained health personnel for dental treatment. Dental fluorosis prevalence in 5- and 12-year olds was 11.9% and 22.9% respectively. Bleeding on probing and calculus was common between both the age groups. A low mean number of healthy sextants were found and this decreased with age. Mean dmft/DMFT values for 5- and 12-year olds were 4.13 ± 3.90 and 1.15 ± 1.62. Significant caries index (SIC) scores for 5- and 12-year olds were 7.17 ±4.30 and 3.78 ± 3.21 respectively. Conclusion: The present study reveals high sugar consumption, dental fluorosis, poor oral hygiene, and untreated dental disease of tribal children. Under these circumstances, the implementation of preventive programs including restriction of sweets in school premises for the tribal children is the key to good oral health.

scholarly journals Oral health status, attitudes and gender variations among governmental school children at Al-Mafraq governate – Jordan

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena Smadi ◽  
Lara Kharma ◽  
Asma’a Abu Abed ◽  
Eman Bny Mfarej ◽  
Asma Abdalmohdi
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Treatment Needs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dmft Index

Objectives: Calculate the prevalence and severity of dental caries and periodontal health among school students aged 12-18 years old and their attitudes toward dental health and oral hygiene at Al-Mafraq governate- Jordan.Materials and methods: Demographic and oral behavioral information were collected; students aged 12-18 years old from six public schools distributed over three districts in Al-Mafraq governate over a six-month period had a full oral and dental examination. DMFT index (Decay, Missing, Filling, Teeth) was used to measure caries experience. Plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) of Löe and Silness were used to evaluate the oral health status. T - test was used for statistical evaluation. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: 1165 students were examined, 51% never had been to a dentist or had any previous dental treatment, 39.6% of the students examined never brushed their teeth and 61.85 % had dental caries. The (SiC) was 4.72 with a decay representing 93.53%. Females brush their teeth more frequent than males with a statistically significant difference; p< 0.001. Females showed lower DMFT index (1.81) and compared to males (2.25) with a statistically significant difference. Females showed lower SiC (4.164) compared to males (5.186)   with a statistically significant difference. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females in PI p= 0.590, and GI; p= 0.852.Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries among students in Al-Mafraq governate and the significant caries index were substantially higher than the target goals of WHO/ FDA of year 2015 with more than 90 % of unmet treatment needs. Girls showed better oral hygiene habits compared to boys and exhibited less dental caries experience. However, periodontal status did not differ significantly between both genders.

scholarly journals Oral health knowledge and practices of antenatal mothers in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Muhammad Azim Syahmi Kamaruddin ◽  
Norsamsu Arni Samsudin
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Oral Health Knowledge

Mothers play a very significant role in influencing the oral health status of the family. Many studies have highlighted the importance of good oral health during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess knowledge, self-perceived oral health status, and practices of antenatal mothers in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. A total of 76 antenatal mothers visiting Obstetrics & Gynaecology specialist clinic at Hospital USM were involved in this cross-sectional survey study. The questionnaires contained items related to oral health knowledge, self-perceived dental problems, barriers to seeking dental care, oral hygiene habits, perceptions of oral health, and access to dental care. Majority (98.7%) agreed that their oral health was important as part of general health. About 58% of them had answered correctly regarding oral health knowledge. Most respondents had self-perceptions of having dental problems during pregnancy, including cavitated teeth (34.4%) and sensitive teeth (20.5%). Regarding practice, only 35.3% visited a dentist in the last six months. Time constraints (52.4%) and safety concerns regarding dental treatment (26.2%) were the main barriers to seek dental care. Many (90%) brushed their teeth at least twice daily with adult fluoridated toothpaste, while some used mouthwash daily (36.8%) and flossed their teeth (11.8%). Antenatal mothers had an average level of knowledge regarding oral health, experienced dental problems during pregnancy and lacked awareness of a regular dental visit. Hence, there is a need for more vigorous oral health promotion, which also include antenatal care providers, to improve oral health awareness among antenatal mothers.

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