The association between oral health literacy and oral health-related behaviours among female adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

IF 1.7 Q3 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Saudi Dental Journal Pub Date : 2024-05-18 DOI:10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.05.007

Muneera Alzeer , AlBandary AlJameel , Kasper Rosing , Esben Øzhayat

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Oral health literacy (OHL) is suggested as an important denominator of oral health. This study aimed to identify ways to improve oral health by exploring the association between oral health literacy and oral health-related behaviours among female adolescents in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods

This cross-sectional study assessed OHL among 1,889 10th grade female students in the Eastern Province of the KSA. OHL was assessed using an Arabic version of the short version of the Health Literacy in Dentistry scale (A-HeLD-14). Self-reported socio-demographic information and oral health-related behaviours (toothbrushing, dental attendance, and sugary diet consumption) were also collected. The relationship between OHL and oral health-related behaviours was investigated using binary logistic regression, adjusted for socio-demographic information.

Results

The binary logistic regression analyses showed that poor OHL was significantly associated with infrequent toothbrushing (p < 0.001) and irregular dental attendance (p = 0.005) but not with consumption of sugary diets. All A-HeLD-14 domains were significantly associated with infrequent toothbrushing, and the domains concerning access, receptivity, and financial barriers were significantly associated with irregular dental attendance. The highest odds ratios (ORs) for infrequent toothbrushing were found in the domains of receptivity (OR = 4.19) and understanding (OR = 3.85) and for irregular dental attendance in the financial barriers (OR = 1.61) and access (OR = 1.49) domains, followed by the receptivity domain (OR = 1.35).

Conclusion

Poor OHL was significantly associated with infrequent toothbrushing and irregular dental attendance. Interventions focusing on OHL are warranted to improve oral health-related behaviours and thereby oral health in the population. The aspects that seem most vital to target are improved access to dental care, including the reduction of economic barriers, as well as increased awareness of oral health in the population.

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沙特阿拉伯王国女性青少年口腔健康知识与口腔健康相关行为之间的关系：横断面研究

目标口腔健康素养（OHL）被认为是口腔健康的重要标准。本研究旨在通过探索沙特阿拉伯王国（KSA）东部省女性青少年的口腔健康素养与口腔健康相关行为之间的关联，找出改善口腔健康的方法。方法本横断面研究评估了沙特阿拉伯东部省 1889 名十年级女生的口腔健康素养。OHL 采用阿拉伯语版的牙科健康素养简易量表（A-HeLD-14）进行评估。此外，还收集了自我报告的社会人口信息和口腔健康相关行为（刷牙、看牙医和食用含糖饮食）。结果二元逻辑回归分析表明，口腔健康欠佳与不经常刷牙（p < 0.001）和不定期看牙（p = 0.005）显著相关，但与含糖饮食的摄入量无关。A-HeLD-14的所有领域都与不经常刷牙显著相关，而有关获取、接受和经济障碍的领域则与不经常看牙医显著相关。在接受能力（OR = 4.19）和理解能力（OR = 3.85）领域，不经常刷牙的几率比（OR）最高；在经济障碍（OR = 1.61）和获取能力（OR = 1.49）领域，不经常看牙医的几率比（OR）最高，其次是接受能力领域（OR = 1.35）。为了改善口腔健康相关行为，进而改善人口的口腔健康状况，有必要采取以口腔健康相关行为为重点的干预措施。最重要的目标是改善获得牙科保健的途径，包括减少经济障碍，以及提高人们对口腔健康的认识。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Saudi Dental Journal DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE-

CiteScore

3.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

22 weeks

期刊介绍： Saudi Dental Journal is an English language, peer-reviewed scholarly publication in the area of dentistry. Saudi Dental Journal publishes original research and reviews on, but not limited to: • dental disease • clinical trials • dental equipment • new and experimental techniques • epidemiology and oral health • restorative dentistry • periodontology • endodontology • prosthodontics • paediatric dentistry • orthodontics and dental education Saudi Dental Journal is the official publication of the Saudi Dental Society and is published by King Saud University in collaboration with Elsevier and is edited by an international group of eminent researchers.