Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia
Abstract Background Poor oral hygiene affects the overall health and quality of life. However, the oral hygiene practice in rural communities and contributing factors are not well documented. Accordingly, this study was conducted to assess oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Oral Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04049-4 |
| _version_ | 1827321254521077760 |
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| author | Zemichael Gizaw Negesu Gizaw Demissie Mulat Gebrehiwot Bikes Destaw Bitew Adane Nigusie |
| author_facet | Zemichael Gizaw Negesu Gizaw Demissie Mulat Gebrehiwot Bikes Destaw Bitew Adane Nigusie |
| author_sort | Zemichael Gizaw |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Poor oral hygiene affects the overall health and quality of life. However, the oral hygiene practice in rural communities and contributing factors are not well documented. Accordingly, this study was conducted to assess oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1190 households. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire, prepared based on a review of relevant literature. The questionnaire comprises socio-demographic information, access to health and hygiene messages, oral hygiene practices, and water quality. We assessed oral hygiene practices with these criteria: mouth wash with clean water in every morning, mouth wash with clean water after eating, brushing teeth regularly, and avoiding gum pricking. Gum pricking in this study is defined as sticking needles or wires into gums to make the gums black for beauty. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with oral hygiene practices. Significant associations were declared on the basis of adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-values < 0.05. Results Results showed that all the family members usually washed their mouth with clean water in everyday morning and after eating in 65.2% and 49.6% of the households, respectively. Furthermore, 29.9% of the households reported that all the family members regularly brushed their teeth using toothbrush sticks and one or more of the family members in 14.5% of the households had gum pricking. Overall, 42.9% (95% CI: 39.9, 45.6%) of the households had good oral hygiene practices. Health and/or hygiene education was associated with good oral hygiene practices in the area (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.21). Conclusion More than half of the households had poor oral hygiene practices in the area and cleaning of teeth with toothpastes is not practiced in the area, where as gum pricking is practiced in more than one-tenth of the households. The local health department needs provide community-level oral health education/interventions, such as washing mouth with clean water at least twice a day, teeth brushing using indigenous methods such as toothbrush sticks or modern methods such as toothpastes, and avoiding gum pricking to promote oral health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7dcd6f827184b2586e3bf270a2cd69d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6831 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Oral Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7dcd6f827184b2586e3bf270a2cd69d2024-03-10T12:23:31ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312024-03-012411810.1186/s12903-024-04049-4Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest EthiopiaZemichael Gizaw0Negesu Gizaw Demissie1Mulat Gebrehiwot2Bikes Destaw Bitew3Adane Nigusie4Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarAbstract Background Poor oral hygiene affects the overall health and quality of life. However, the oral hygiene practice in rural communities and contributing factors are not well documented. Accordingly, this study was conducted to assess oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1190 households. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire, prepared based on a review of relevant literature. The questionnaire comprises socio-demographic information, access to health and hygiene messages, oral hygiene practices, and water quality. We assessed oral hygiene practices with these criteria: mouth wash with clean water in every morning, mouth wash with clean water after eating, brushing teeth regularly, and avoiding gum pricking. Gum pricking in this study is defined as sticking needles or wires into gums to make the gums black for beauty. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with oral hygiene practices. Significant associations were declared on the basis of adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-values < 0.05. Results Results showed that all the family members usually washed their mouth with clean water in everyday morning and after eating in 65.2% and 49.6% of the households, respectively. Furthermore, 29.9% of the households reported that all the family members regularly brushed their teeth using toothbrush sticks and one or more of the family members in 14.5% of the households had gum pricking. Overall, 42.9% (95% CI: 39.9, 45.6%) of the households had good oral hygiene practices. Health and/or hygiene education was associated with good oral hygiene practices in the area (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.21). Conclusion More than half of the households had poor oral hygiene practices in the area and cleaning of teeth with toothpastes is not practiced in the area, where as gum pricking is practiced in more than one-tenth of the households. The local health department needs provide community-level oral health education/interventions, such as washing mouth with clean water at least twice a day, teeth brushing using indigenous methods such as toothbrush sticks or modern methods such as toothpastes, and avoiding gum pricking to promote oral health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04049-4Oral healthOral hygieneMouthwashTeeth cleaningToothbrush sticksGum pricking |
| spellingShingle | Zemichael Gizaw Negesu Gizaw Demissie Mulat Gebrehiwot Bikes Destaw Bitew Adane Nigusie Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia BMC Oral Health Oral health Oral hygiene Mouthwash Teeth cleaning Toothbrush sticks Gum pricking |
| title | Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia |
| title_full | Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia |
| title_short | Oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest Ethiopia |
| title_sort | oral hygiene practices and associated factors among rural communities in northwest ethiopia |
| topic | Oral health Oral hygiene Mouthwash Teeth cleaning Toothbrush sticks Gum pricking |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04049-4 |
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