Abstract
Background The prevalence of periodontal diseases is increasing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite a worldwide decline in the prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents. The aims of this study were to determine the levels of oral health knowledge and health-related behavior in adult UAE residents, and the relationship between these variables and oral health. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey with nonprobability sampling was used in this study. A sample of 630 adults residing in the UAE completed an oral health survey to assess their oral health knowledge and behavior. Mean oral health knowledge and behavior scores were calculated and correlated with population demographic and behavioral variables. Results Participants were found to have an acceptable oral health knowledge score (OHKS) of 10.50 (2.36) where 62 % of participants answered the questions correctly. Results showed that age, gender, nationality, smoking, and physical activity were significantly associated with the knowledge score. However, only gender, nationality, and smoking predicted oral health knowledge scores after further regression analysis. On the other hand, the mean oral health behavior score (OHBS) for all participants was 8.91 (2.29); 98% of all participants practiced at least an acceptable level of oral behavior and 53% practiced a good to perfect level. Age, gender, educational level, employment status, insurance status, marital status, nationality, smoking, and physical activity showed significant statistical association with the score of behaviors related to oral health. Only gender, number of diabetes sessions attended, and health information sources used remained significant after further regression analysis. Conclusion Further efforts are required to spread awareness about oral health and encourage the UAE population to develop healthy oral habits. Such programs will decrease the occurrence and burden of many chronic oral diseases especially periodontal diseases.
Highlights
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates and the population is made up of various demographic groups from different ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds
428 observations were analyzed for total knowledge score and 592 observations for total behavioral score as missing observations were excluded from the analysis
The responses to the 17 knowledge related questions were all highly correlated; they were combined into a new variable called oral health knowledge score
Summary
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates and the population is made up of various demographic groups from different ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. According to United Nation estimates, the population of the UAE reached 9.47 million in 2018 [1]. Demographic factors such as an aging population, high birth rate, and expatriate majority have resulted in an increase in healthcare expenditures. Gender, nationality, smoking, and physical activity were significantly associated with the knowledge score. Only gender, nationality, and smoking predicted oral health knowledge scores after further regression analysis. Gender, educational level, employment status, insurance status, marital status, nationality, smoking, and physical activity showed significant statistical association with the score of behaviors related to oral health. Further efforts are required to spread awareness about oral health and encourage the UAE population to develop healthy oral habits. Such programs will decrease the occurrence and burden of many chronic oral diseases especially periodontal diseases
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