Oral healthcare-seeking behavior and perception of oral health and general healthcare among WHO indexed age groups in East-Coast India

Community-based early detection of oral precancerous lesion, accessibility and utilization of oral healthcare services among Irular tribes residing at union territory of Pondicherry

Background

The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of oral carcinoma and precancerous lesion, oral healthcare seeking behaviour and identify accessible areas of tobacco cessation centres and oral healthcare facilities among Irular adult tribes residing in Pondicherry.

Objectives

1. To estimate the prevalence of oral carcinomas and precancerous lesion by using toluidine blue solution. 2. To determine their oral healthcare seeking behaviour in terms of utilizing oral healthcare facilities. 3. To identify accessible tobacco cessation centres and oral healthcare centres for prevention of oral cancer.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional study is designed to identify oral carcinomas, oral health-care seeking behaviour among Irular tribes of Pondicherry. 1% toluidine blue solution prepared for detection of oral precancerous lesion. Data was collected using a questionnaire and clinical examination. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis.

Results

Out of 587 study population, oral mucosal lesion among the study population was 46 (7.8%) leukoplakia and 18 (3.1%) candidiasis. Positive health seeking behaviour 24 (41.7%) was observed.

Conclusion

The study concluded that low prevalence of oral precancerous lesion and oral healthcare seeking behaviour is poor.

Utilization of dental health services and its associated factors among adult population in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India: A mixed-method analysis

Background

There exists a high burden of oral diseases. Yet, the utilization of oral health care remains low. Understanding how, when, and why/why not individuals utilize dental healthcare resources is essential for planning health services and developing policies as it reflects the population's oral health needs, helps allocate resources efficiently, and formulate policies that are tailored to address their needs.

Objectives

To assess the utilization of dental health services and its associated factors along with barriers and facilitators among adults residing in Ernakulam district, Kerala, using the Anderson healthcare model for healthcare utilization.

Methods

A mixed-method study was conducted among adults aged 18 years and above in urban and rural wards of Ernakulam district using the cluster sampling method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used for the quantitative part, and thematic analysis was used for the qualitative aspect. The total sample size was 544.

Results

The dental healthcare utilization was 15.4 ± 2.9 % among the study participants. Age and education were associated with dental healthcare utilization. The level of education, pain, and self-consciousness of oral diseases were independent predictors. Barriers identified were negative attitudes, financial restraints, and difficulty in access, while facilitators were trust in service providers, availability of services, and a positive attitude.

Conclusion

Utilization was poor despite the perceived need for oral health care. This was affected by several personal and system-level facilitators and barriers.

The role of intergenerational support in shaping oral healthcare-seeking behavior among older adults in China

Background

This study aimed to explore how intergenerational support affects the oral healthcare or treatment-seeking behaviors of older Chinese adults and provide evidence for improving the oral health of the older adults in an aging society.

Methods

Data from a cross-sectional survey, the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, were used to explore the relationship between oral healthcare-seeking behavior in older adults and various independent variables, such as marital status, number of children, offspring's education duration, parent-offspring interaction frequency, and financial/material support provided by children. The chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used.

Results

According to the results of data analysis, age, sex, marital status, cohabitation status, number of children, children's education level, and financial support from children affected older adults' oral healthcare-seeking behavior. Interviewees living with a partner and those who had 1-2 or 3-4 children showed different likelihoods of seeking oral healthcare. Moreover, interviewees whose children had higher education duration and those who received more financial/material support from their children were more likely to seek dental treatment.

Conclusion

Regarding the study's outcome, financial and emotional support, as well as practical assistance from family members can significantly promote oral health-seeking behavior among older adult people. Intergenerational support can serve as a crucial mechanism for promoting oral health behaviors among the older adults or act as a valuable complement to social medical assistance, warranting increased attention.