Division of Epidemiology, SRM School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.
Clin Exp Dent Res. 2024 Dec;10(6):e70036. doi: 10.1002/cre2.70036.
This study aims to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among the Irula tribes and to know the factors influencing quality of life among the elderly irula tribes of Tamil Nadu.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Northern district of Tamil Nadu, including 486 Irula individuals aged 65 and above. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, including the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) to evaluate OHRQoL. The study tool covered demographics, medical history, and oral health issues. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23, with logistic regression applied to account for confounders.
The sample primarily consisted of individuals aged 65-69 years (55.6%), with a predominance of females (76.3%). The majority were Hindu (94.9%) and lived in nuclear families (88.3%). Educational levels were low, with 66.5% being illiterate. Most participants were agricultural laborers (64.6%) and had low monthly incomes. GOHAI results revealed that many respondents faced significant oral health challenges, including difficulties with eating, speaking, and discomfort. Multivariate analysis showed that educational level significantly affected OHRQoL, with higher education correlating with better quality of life. Arthritis was associated with poorer OHRQoL, while other health conditions did not show significant impacts.
The study highlights severe oral health issues among the Irula community, with significant physical and psychological impacts. Educational attainment plays a crucial role in OHRQoL, while arthritis notably affects quality of life. The findings emphasize the need for targeted oral health interventions and increased awareness in tribal communities to improve overall health outcomes. Further research in larger populations is necessary to comprehensively understand and address geriatric oral health needs.
本研究旨在评估伊鲁拉部落的口腔健康相关生活质量（OHRQoL），并了解影响泰米尔纳德邦老年伊鲁拉部落生活质量的因素。
这是一项在泰米尔纳德邦北部地区进行的横断面研究，包括 486 名 65 岁及以上的伊鲁拉人。采用多阶段抽样法选择参与者。通过结构问卷收集数据，包括评估 OHRQoL 的老年口腔健康评估指数（GOHAI）。研究工具涵盖了人口统计学、病史和口腔健康问题。使用 SPSS 版本 23 进行数据分析，应用逻辑回归来考虑混杂因素。
样本主要由 65-69 岁的个体组成（55.6%），女性居多（76.3%）。大多数是印度教徒（94.9%），居住在核心家庭（88.3%）。教育程度较低，66.5%的人是文盲。大多数参与者是农业工人（64.6%），月收入较低。GOHAI 结果显示，许多受访者面临严重的口腔健康挑战，包括进食、说话和不适方面的困难。多变量分析表明，教育程度显著影响 OHRQoL，较高的教育程度与更好的生活质量相关。关节炎与较差的 OHRQoL 相关，而其他健康状况没有显著影响。
该研究强调了伊鲁拉社区严重的口腔健康问题，对身体和心理都有重大影响。教育程度在 OHRQoL 中起着关键作用，而关节炎显著影响生活质量。研究结果强调了在部落社区中需要进行有针对性的口腔健康干预和提高认识，以改善整体健康结果。需要在更大的人群中进行进一步的研究，以全面了解和解决老年人口腔健康需求。
