Summary
Objectives:
Identification of population groups at high risk for poor oral self-care in adults was needed in order to enable more focused planning of oral health promotion actions in Slovenia.
Methods:
The study was based on the national health behaviour database in adults aged 25-64. Data collected in 2001 were used. The sample size was 15,379. The overall response rate was 64 %, and 8,392 questionnaires were eligible for oral self-care assessment. A complex indicator based on oral hygiene, frequency of visiting a dentist, and nutritional habits was derived. The outcome of interest was poor oral self-care. Logistic regression was used to test multivariate associations between several factors (gender, age, educational level, social class, etc.) and poor oral self-care.
Results:
The overall prevalence of poor oral self-care was 6.9 %. The odds for this outcome were higher for men (ORmales vs. females = 7.49, p < 0.001), (or participants with the lowest educational levels (ORuncompleted primary vs. university = 5.95, p < 0.001; ORprimary vs. university = 4.95, p < 0.001), and for participants from the lowest social classes (ORlower vs. upper-middle = 6.20, p < 0.001; ORlabour vs. upper-middle = 4.05, p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
Special attention should be paid to oral health promotion for men, for those with low educational level, and for those belonging to the lowest social classes.
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Submitted: 31 July 2007; Revised: 29 April 2008; Accepted: 30 April 2008
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Artnik, B., Premik, M. & Zaletel-Kragelj, L. Population groups at high risk for poor oral self care: the basis for oral health promotion. Int J Public Health 53, 195–203 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-008-7072-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-008-7072-7