Prevalence of Periodontal Disease Among Undergraduate Students In AL-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Periodontal disease, which involves gingivitis and periodontitis, is a common oral infection that affects the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Previously there were no epidemiological studies to assess the prevalence of periodontal disease in Al-Qadisiyah governorate generally and Al-Qadisiyah colleges and institute specifically. Therefore, an epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of periodontal diseases is essentially needed. To assess the prevalence of periodontal disease for the final year undergraduate students at all colleges and institute in Al-Qadisiyah governorate, Iraq and investigate the effect of age, gender, socioeconomic status, marital status and lifestyle factors on periodontal health status. A cross-sectional study was performed in AL-Qadisiyah colleges and institute. A total of 800 last stages students were examined using the community periodontal index for treatment needs and chosen randomly through stratified random sampling. A questionnaire was used to record information about socioeconomic status, marital status, and lifestyle, and correlated with periodontal health status. The overall prevalence rate of periodontal disease for the final year of undergraduate students in Al-Qadisiyah colleges and institute was 84.6%. Bleeding code 1 and calculus code 2 recorded approximately similar percentages (31.5%) and (31.4) respectively and only 15.4 % of students had healthy periodontium, while the percentage of shallow and deep pockets recorded 18.4 % and 3.4% respectively. Community periodontal index for treatment needs varied non-significantly among marital status in which single students had healthier periodontium (16.5%) compared to married. The statistical analysis also showed that students with very good socioeconomic status and good lifestyle had the highest percentages of healthy periodontium (50%), (22.6%) respectively. The present study shows a higher prevalence rate of bleeding and calculus among final year of undergraduate students in Al–Qadisiyah colleges and institute with a lack of knowledge about periodontal health status. Hence, there are significant associations of age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle with periodontal health conditions, also the results indicated that the majority of the students need preventive programs to reduce PDs initiation or progression.