Abstract:
Introduction: Poor oral health can have a significant effect on quality of life. Good oral health related behaviour prevents, maintains, and promotes general health as well as oral health. A study was undertaken to assess the oral health related behaviour and risk factors of poor oral health among a group of Yeminis adolescents living in Malaysia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 students of Yemenis adolescents aged 11-17 years old from two schools in Klang Valley, Malaysia during the study period of two weeks in September 2018. Systematic random sampling method was carried out and students who met the selection criteria were recruited into the study. Oral health behaviour was the dependent variable and sociodemographic, knowledge and attitude were independent variables. Data were collected using an interviewer administered validated questionnaire. Chi square test for comparison of proportions and odds ratio to determine strength of associations were done.
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Results: The mean age of the study population was 13 years, (SD=1.8) and comprised of 54.4% males and 45.6% females. There was no statistically significant association between oral health related behaviour and socio demographic factors like gender, age, number of siblings and parents’ education level. There was also no statistically significant association between oral health knowledge and oral health behaviour. Female adolescents displayed better behaviour than the male in respect of the frequency and time of teeth brushing. This difference was a statistically significant. Although a high proportion of participants were aware that sweets affect oral health adversely, they consumed sweets regularly.
Conclusion: The study found that about a third of the participants had poor oral health knowledge and poor oral health related behaviour. About a third of the participants have had sought treatment for dental disease in the past.
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Key words: Oral health behaviour, migrants, Yemenis, Adolescents, Malaysia.
