Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Public Health Professional Development Society (PPDS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
PLoS One. 2022 Jun 15;17(6):e0269359. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269359. eCollection 2022.
Oral health is a critical component of human health but is sometimes forgotten, particularly during humanitarian crises. This research aimed to ascertain the state of oral health among Rohingya refugees living in one of the largest refugee camps and evaluate their knowledge and practice of oral health. A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted among 477 participants from July to September 2021 using a structured questionnaire. There were 34 Rohingya camps and out of those 14 camps were accessible for data collection. The study participants were between 18-82 years residing in the refugee camps under Cox's Bazar. The majority of participants (53.88%) were female and between the ages of 25 and 45. Around 46.12% of respondents did not have basic oral health knowledge, while 53.67% were in need of dental care. Nearly half of the participants demonstrated poor oral health practices. Participants' age and educational level were positively associated with oral health knowledge (p = 0.02 and p<0.001). Furthermore, the knowledge level was positively associated with oral health practice (p = .025). Participants with a history of teeth pain and discomfort in the last 12 months were ten times more likely to seek treatment (OR = 9.93, CI: 5.591-17.64). The study indicated a growing demand for dental care among Rohingya refugees staying in Bangladesh. To reduce the severity of oral health issues, use of minimally invasive restorative procedures can be suggested in camps. New oral health promotion campaigns should be emphasized and proper education, ideally in their original language, can be beneficial.
口腔健康是人类健康的重要组成部分，但有时会被忽视，尤其是在人道主义危机期间。本研究旨在确定生活在最大难民营之一的罗兴亚难民的口腔健康状况，并评估他们的口腔健康知识和实践。2021 年 7 月至 9 月，采用结构化问卷对 477 名参与者进行了多中心横断面调查。在 Cox's Bazar 下的难民营中，有 34 个罗兴亚难民营，其中 14 个难民营可以进行数据收集。研究参与者年龄在 18-82 岁之间，居住在难民营中。大多数参与者（53.88%）为女性，年龄在 25-45 岁之间。约有 46.12%的受访者没有基本的口腔健康知识，而 53.67%的人需要牙科护理。近一半的参与者口腔卫生习惯较差。参与者的年龄和教育水平与口腔健康知识呈正相关（p = 0.02 和 p<0.001）。此外，知识水平与口腔健康实践呈正相关（p =.025）。在过去 12 个月中有过牙痛和不适经历的参与者寻求治疗的可能性是其他人的十倍（OR = 9.93，CI：5.591-17.64）。研究表明，在孟加拉国生活的罗兴亚难民对牙科护理的需求日益增长。为了减轻口腔健康问题的严重程度，可以在难民营中使用微创修复程序。应该强调新的口腔健康促进活动，并且可以提供适当的教育，理想情况下是使用他们的母语。
