Abstract
Background: Oral health knowledge, attitude and practices are essential components of general human health, and its assessment can serve to identify risk factors and design appropriate behavior modification strategies. However, studies on poor and marginalized people who have a higher proportion of oral health problems are relatively scarce. This study aimed to assess the differences in level of knowledge, attitudes and practices between the under-privileged and the privileged population of a rural location in eastern Nepal.
 Methods: The under-privileged and privileged population were compared based on the classification of Nepal Government and one respondent from each household was assessed for oral health knowledge, attitude and practices. Chi-square test with odds ratio (OR) were computed for inferential statistics with the probability of significance set at 95% of Confidence Interval (CI).
 Results: Of the total participants (1145), almost 50% had poor knowledge on oral health hygiene. Based on their ethnicity, 46.2% fell in the under-privileged category. The privileged groups had more odds (OR) of cleaning their oral cavity [OR=3.5], using tooth brush [OR=2.04], brushing more than once per day [OR=2.3] and visiting dentist for dental problems [OR=2.1] which was statistically significant.
 Conclusion: The study population had poor knowledge (≈ 50%) on dental health hygiene. Privileged groups were more likely to clean their oral cavity, use tooth brush, visit dentist for dental problems and brush more than once per day which was statistically significant. This calls for behavior change communication activities on oral hygiene practices.
Highlights
Oral health is an essential component of general human health with socioeconomic status as one of its determinants.[1,2,3] The preventive and promotive measures essential at individual and population level are important to improve the oral health status with an overall benefit in the quality of life.[4]
The under-privileged and privileged population were compared based on the classification of Nepal Government and one respondent from each household was assessed for oral health knowledge, attitude and practices
46.2% fell in the under-privileged category
Summary
Oral health is an essential component of general human health with socioeconomic status as one of its determinants.[1,2,3] The preventive and promotive measures essential at individual and population level are important to improve the oral health status with an overall benefit in the quality of life.[4] Knowledge on dental hygiene gained from regular visits to dental clinics contributes to increased use of oral hygiene aids.[5] Proper oral health hygiene including regular tooth-brushing, use of oral hygiene aids and regular dental check-ups have been associated with reduced periodontal diseases.[6] Poor oral health is associated with weight loss, malnutrition, systemic diseases and focal infections increasing morbidity and mortality as observed in different studies.[1] These negative impacts contribute to challenges in the overall health of the population in general. This study aimed to assess the differences in level of knowledge, attitudes and practices between the under-privileged and the privileged population of a rural location in eastern Nepal
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