Influence of oral health related behavior on oral health of adolescents in Belgrade

• Published in: Stomatološki glasnik Srbije Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 76 - 84
• Main Authors: Lalic, Maja, Krivokapic, Marina, Jankovic-Bukva, Biljana, Aleksic, Ema, Gajic, Mihajlo, Bankovic, Dusica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Medical Society - Dental Section, Belgrade 2013
• Subjects: adolescents; HU-DBI questionnaire; oral health; oral health related attitudes; oral health related behavior; oral hygiene
• ISSN: 0039-1743; 1452-3701
• DOI: 10.2298/SGS1302076L

Introduction. Adolescence is a period of intensive physical, psychological and emotional changes that might affect existing oral health related habits and result in developing risky behaviors. The aim of the present study was to investigate oral health attitudes and behavior and their relation to dental caries experience in the group of adolescents from Belgrade. Material and Methods. This cross-sectional study included 404 high-school students grade one from Belgrade. Two trained and calibrated dentists conducted clinical examination in classrooms to determine oral health status of adolescents (DMFT index and visual signs of gingivitis). Modified Serbian version of Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire with three additional questions was used to collect data on oral health behavior and attitudes. Results. Mean HU-DBI score was 6.22?1.45 for males and 6.28?1.45 for females (p<0.05). Dental visits at least once in a year reported 67.3% adolescents, more often girls (p<0.05). Only emergency dental visits reported 47.1% of adolescents. Majority of respondents reported brushing teeth twice a day or more (86.2%), girls more often than boys (p<0.001). Only 13.4% reported regular flossing and 30.3% daily use of mouth rinses. Mean DMFT score was 5.84?0.20 with 45% of untreated decayed tooth. Unfavorable oral health related attitudes and behavior were related to poorer oral health status of adolescents. Conclusion. Poor oral health of adolescents is influenced by their inadequate attitudes and habits. Program of oral health promotion for adolescents that would target knowledge, attitudes and skills development should be implemented to enhance adolescents? oral self-care regime and oral health outcome. Uvod. Adolescencija je period intenzivnih fizickih, psiholoskih i emocionalnih promena koje mogu da uticu na dotad stvorene navike u vezi s oralnim zdravljem i dovedu do ispoljavanja novih rizicnih oblika ponasanja. Cilj ovog rada je bio da se utvrdi povezanost navika i stavova adolescenata koji zive na teritoriji grada Beograda i njihovog oralnog zdravlja, izrazenog pomocu indeksa KEP. Materijal i metode rada. Istrazivanje je uradjeno kao studija preseka i obuhvatilo je 404 ucenika prvog razreda srednjih skola na teritoriji grada Beograda. Dva obucena stomatologa su na osnovu stomatoloskog pregleda obavljenog u ucionicama utvrdila stanje oralnog zdravlja adolescenata (indeks KEP i postojanje vidljivih znakova zapaljenja gingive). Podaci o navikama i stavovima u vezi s oralnim zdravljem prikupljeni su pomocu modifikovane verzije upitnika o ponasanju u vezi s oralnim zdravljem Univerziteta u Hirosimi (Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory - HU-DBI), koji je prosiren sa tri pitanja. Rezultati. Prosecan HU-DBI skor bio je 6,22?1,45 kod ispitanih mladica, a 6,28?1,45 kod ispitanih devojaka (p<0,05). Najmanje jednom godisnje stomatologa je posecivalo 67,3% adolescenata, i to su cesce cinile devojke (p<0,05). Naviku odlaganja odlaska stomatologu do pojave zubobolje navelo je 47,1% adolescenata. Vecina ispitanika (86,2%) prala je zube dva puta dnevno, pri cemu su devojke to cinile cesce nego mladici (p<0,001). Samo 13,4% ispitanika koristilo je konac za zube, a 30,3% rastvore za ispiranje usta. Ukupan KIP je bio 5,84?0,20, sa 45% nesaniranih karijesnih zuba u strukturi KEP. Zakljucak. Neodgovarajuci stavovi i navike adolescenata uticali su na njihovo lose oralno zdravlje. Da bi se unapredile navike nege zuba i oralnog zdravlja, potrebno je da adolescenti budu obuhvaceni programom zdravstveno-vaspitnog rada usmerenim ka razvijanju odgovarajucih znanja, stavova i vestina u ocuvanju zdravlja usta i zuba.