Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Oral Health. 2021 Oct 2;21(1):489. doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01856-x.
Oral diseases are a public health concern with a significant impact on the quality of life of individuals. Children with special needs face significant challenges in carrying out oral hygiene due to their disability, and they are more prone to poor oral health and illnesses. This study assessed dental health problems and treatment-seeking behaviors of special needs school students in Amhara region, Ethiopia.
An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to April 2021, in eight special needs schools located in the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 443 randomly selected special needs students were included. Data were collected using a structured interview-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with oral health problems and treatment-seeking behavior. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.
The prevalence of self-reported dental health problems and treatment-seeking behaviors among special needs school students was 46.1% (95% CI: 41.4%, 50.7%) and 60.3% (95% CI: 53.4%, 66.8%), respectively. Place of residence, grade level, religious affiliation, years lived with disability, and knowledge of dental health-related risk behaviors were associated with dental health problems. Whereas, place of residence, being hearing impaired, and having prior information about dental health problems were associated with dental treatment-seeking behavior.
A significant number of special needs students reported dental problems and about 40% of them did not seek dental treatment. Oral hygiene practice and access to dental care services are important in the prevention of dental problems. Hence, oral hygiene promotion programs focusing on oral hygiene practice and dental treatment services are needed in special needs schools. It is also strongly suggested to incorporate oral health related information in health-related academic lessons to enhance optimum oral health among special needs students.
口腔疾病是一个公共卫生关注点，对个人的生活质量有重大影响。由于残疾，特殊需求儿童在进行口腔卫生方面面临重大挑战，他们更容易出现口腔健康不良和疾病。本研究评估了埃塞俄比亚阿姆哈拉地区特殊需求学校学生的口腔健康问题和寻求治疗的行为。
这是一项 2020 年 11 月至 2021 年 4 月在埃塞俄比亚阿姆哈拉地区的 8 所特殊需求学校进行的基于机构的横断面研究。总共纳入了 443 名随机选择的特殊需求学生。使用结构化访谈问卷调查收集数据。使用单变量和多变量逻辑回归模型来确定与口腔健康问题和寻求治疗行为相关的因素。p 值小于 0.05 被认为具有统计学意义。
特殊需求学校学生自我报告的口腔健康问题和寻求治疗行为的患病率分别为 46.1%（95%CI：41.4%，50.7%）和 60.3%（95%CI：53.4%，66.8%）。居住地、年级、宗教信仰、残疾生活年限和对口腔健康相关风险行为的了解与口腔健康问题有关。而听力障碍和事先了解口腔健康问题与寻求牙科治疗有关。
相当数量的特殊需求学生报告了口腔问题，其中约 40%的学生没有寻求牙科治疗。口腔卫生实践和获得牙科保健服务对预防口腔问题很重要。因此，特殊需求学校需要开展口腔卫生促进计划，重点关注口腔卫生实践和牙科治疗服务。强烈建议在健康相关学术课程中纳入口腔健康相关信息，以提高特殊需求学生的最佳口腔健康水平。
