Oral health behavior: Structure equation modeling approach

Abstract

Oral health contributes significantly to the quality of life. Oral health behavior comprises awareness, nutritional preferences, and oral hygiene habits. Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the two most commonly prevalent conditions. Behavioral and social interventions are needed to adopt desirable oral health behavior. Before implementing any interventions, there is a need to identify the predictors by using the situation analysis followed by the descriptive study method. This study aimed to provide significant predictors for oral health behavior. : This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Gujarat. 1000 adults were included in the study. A predesigned, pretested questionnaire was used to get the objective of the study.: Socioeconomic status was significantly associated with oral health behavior. A study found an R-value of- .931>0.4, R square value-.867>0.5, and an adjusted R-value was 866. Cronbach alpha of the study was 0.705. Awareness about tobacco chewing, the impact of oral health on general health, bleeding gums, irregularly placed teeth, brushing habits, direction and time of brushing, brush changing pattern, preference for dentist visit, anxiety, and perceived anxiety for dental treatment were had the causal relationship with latent variables of the oral health variables. : Awareness about risk factors, dental conditions, and treatment-seeking behavior were significantly associated with oral health behavior, whereas attitude failed to affect behavior. Before implementing any new interventions, oral health behavior and socioeconomic status need to address to remove disparities.