Self-Rated Oral Health and Associated Factors among an Adult Population in Rural India-An Epidemiological Study.

Meghashyam Bhat,Kaye Frances Roberts-Thomson,Loc Giang Do,Sreevidya Bhat

doi:10.3390/ijerph18126414

Abstract

Background: To determine the perception of oral health status and its associated factors among adults living in rural areas in Karnataka state, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in the age group of 35–54 years old residing in villages in a southern state in India. The main outcome measure was poor self-rated oral health (SROH) among adults in rural India. Results: About 873 adults participated in the study. The prevalence of poor SROH was 15.2%. Adults of age 40–44 years, females, those in lower socioeconomic conditions, and those with high caries experience (DMFT ≥ 4) and periodontal disease were associated with poor SROH. Those who had visited a dentist in the previous one year were 1.9 times more likely to report poor oral health. Conclusions: Nearly 15% of rural people reported poor oral health. Socioeconomic conditions, sex, age, smoking, and dental visiting were associated with poor SROH. People’s perception of poor oral health was associated with severe periodontitis and DMFT ≥ 4. A dose–response relationship was observed between experience with dental caries and poor SROH.

Highlights

Oral health is an important indicator of overall health and is multifaceted
Socioeconomic indicators such as lower levels of education, lower levels of income, and poor material circumstances were associated with poor self-rated oral health (SROH)
Rural adults living under poor material circumstances showed higher odds (OR = 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–3.07)

Summary

Introduction

Oral health is an important indicator of overall health and is multifaceted. Oral health is measured mainly through clinical examination for dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and unmet dental treatment needs. Some studies have used a single item multidimensional global rating scale, ‘self-rated oral health’. The self-rating of oral health is an economical health assessment method when used in population studies. SROH has been shown to be linked to many factors. It provides a subjective experience of the psychosocial oral health outcomes [2]. SROH has shown an association with clinical oral health outcomes and other correlates such as psychosocial factors, dental care seeking behavior, and perceived stress [3].

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Results

Conclusion