Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income Countries
Poor oral health is still a major burden for populations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was investigate oral health behaviour (tooth brushing and dental attendance) and associated factors in low, middle and high income countries. Using anonymous que...
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doaj-f83d32fc425a4019a6a0958ebf651e082020-11-24T22:25:30ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012014-11-011112122471226010.3390/ijerph111212247ijerph111212247Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income CountriesKarl Peltzer0Supa Pengpid1ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom 73170, ThailandASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom 73170, ThailandPoor oral health is still a major burden for populations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was investigate oral health behaviour (tooth brushing and dental attendance) and associated factors in low, middle and high income countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 19,560 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.8, SD = 2.8) from 27 universities in 26 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that 67.2% of students reported to brush their teeth twice or more times a day, 28.8% about once a day and 4.0% never. Regarding dental check-up visit, 16.3% reported twice a year, 25.6% once a year, 33.9% rarely and 24.3% never. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, being a male, coming from a wealthy or quite well off family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, depression and PTSD symptoms, tobacco use and frequent gambling, low physical activity, and low daily meal and snacks frequency were associated with inadequate tooth brushing (<twice daily). Further, being a male, older age, coming from a not well off or poor family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, PTSD symptoms, illicit drug use, low physical activity, and low daily snacks frequency, skipping breakfast and inadequate fruit and vegetables consumption were associated with less than one annual dental care visit. Oral health behaviour among the students was found to be low. Various risk factors identified can be used to guide interventions to improve oral health behaviour among university students.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/12/12247oral health behaviourtooth brushingdental attendancehealth risk behavioursocial determinantsmental healthuniversity students26 countries |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Karl Peltzer Supa Pengpid |
spellingShingle |
Karl Peltzer Supa Pengpid Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income Countries International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health oral health behaviour tooth brushing dental attendance health risk behaviour social determinants mental health university students 26 countries |
author_facet |
Karl Peltzer Supa Pengpid |
author_sort |
Karl Peltzer |
title |
Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income Countries |
title_short |
Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income Countries |
title_full |
Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income Countries |
title_fullStr |
Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income Countries |
title_full_unstemmed |
Oral Health Behaviour and Social and Health Factors in University Students from 26 Low, Middle and High Income Countries |
title_sort |
oral health behaviour and social and health factors in university students from 26 low, middle and high income countries |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2014-11-01 |
description |
Poor oral health is still a major burden for populations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was investigate oral health behaviour (tooth brushing and dental attendance) and associated factors in low, middle and high income countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 19,560 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.8, SD = 2.8) from 27 universities in 26 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that 67.2% of students reported to brush their teeth twice or more times a day, 28.8% about once a day and 4.0% never. Regarding dental check-up visit, 16.3% reported twice a year, 25.6% once a year, 33.9% rarely and 24.3% never. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, being a male, coming from a wealthy or quite well off family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, depression and PTSD symptoms, tobacco use and frequent gambling, low physical activity, and low daily meal and snacks frequency were associated with inadequate tooth brushing (<twice daily). Further, being a male, older age, coming from a not well off or poor family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, PTSD symptoms, illicit drug use, low physical activity, and low daily snacks frequency, skipping breakfast and inadequate fruit and vegetables consumption were associated with less than one annual dental care visit. Oral health behaviour among the students was found to be low. Various risk factors identified can be used to guide interventions to improve oral health behaviour among university students. |
topic |
oral health behaviour tooth brushing dental attendance health risk behaviour social determinants mental health university students 26 countries |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/12/12247 |
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