Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Oral Health
Published in: BMC Oral Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Associations between mental health problems and risky oral and sexual behaviour in adolescents in a sub-urban community in Southwest Nigeria

Authors: Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan, Olaniyi Arowolo, Boladale Mapayi, Nneka Maureen Chukwumah, Michael A. Alade, Randa H. Yassin, Maha El Tantawi

Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

This study determined the association between mental health and risky oral health and sexual health behaviours.

Methods

A household cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria between December 2019 and January 2020. Data were collected from 10 to 19-year-old on the sociodemographic profile (age, sex at birth and socioeconomic status); mental health problems (psychological distress, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation); and mental (smoking habit, consumption of alcohol, use of psychoactive substances), sexual (history of vaginal or anal sexual intercourse; transactional sex, multiple sex partners, use of condom at last sexual intercourse) and oral (frequency of daily tooth brushing, daily frequency of consumption of refined carbohydrate in-between-meals, frequency of use of dental floss, history of dental service utilization in the last 12 months and dental anxiety) health risk factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between risky oral (neglecting to brush twice daily and frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between-meals), and sexual (neglecting to use condoms during the last sex act and having multiple sex partners) health behaviours as outcome variables, and mental health status as the explanatory variables. An ordinal logistic regression model was also developed where the outcome variable was the number of risky health behaviours. The models were adjusted for the socio-demographic variables and history of dental service utilisation in the last 12 months of the survey.

Results

High psychological distress was significantly associated with lower odds of frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between-meals (AOR = 0.32; 95%CI 0.23, 0.47), and having multiple sex partners (AOR = 0.10; 95%CI 0.02, 0.57); but higher odds of having a higher number of risky behaviours (AOR = 3.04; 95%CI 2.13, 4.33). Having depressive symptoms was significantly associated with higher odds of neglecting to use condom at the last sexual intercourse (AOR = 7.20; 95%CI 1.94, 26.76) and having multiple partners (AOR = 95.43; 95%CI 24.55, 370.90). Suicidal ideation was significantly associated with lower odds of neglecting to use condom at the last sexual intercourse (AOR = 0.00; 95%CI 0.00, 0.00) and having multiple sex partners (AOR = 0.00; 95%CI 0.00, 0.00).

Conclusion

The associations between psychological distress and oral and sexual health risk behaviours in adolescents seem complex and need to be studied further.
Literature
1.
Kieling C, Baker-Henningham H, Belfer H, Conti G, Ertem I, Omigbodun O, Rohde L, Srinath S, Ulkuer N, Rahman A. Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action. Lancet. 2011;378:1515–25.PubMedCrossRef
2.
3.
4.
Schizoph EC. Mental health aspects of sexual and reproductive health in adolescents. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2011;57(S1):86–97.
5.
Patel V, Andrew G. Gender, sexual abuse and risk behaviours in adolescents: a cross-sectional survey in schools in Goa. Natl Med J India. 2001;14(5):263–7.PubMed
6.
Ellsberg M, Jansen HA, Heise L, Watts CH, Garcia-Moreno C. Intimate partner violence and women’s physical and mental health in the WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence: an observational study. Lancet. 2008;371(9619):1165–72.PubMedCrossRef
7.
8.
Fergusson DM, Mullen PE. Childhood sexual abuse: an evidence based perspective. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 1999. p. 91–4.CrossRef
9.
Evans E, Hawton K, Rodham K, Deeks J. The prevalence of suicidal phenomena in adolescents: a systematic review of population-based studies. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2005;35(3):239–50.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Adams DM, Overholser JC, Spirito A. Stressful life events associated with adolescent suicide attempts. Can J Psychiatry. 1994;39(1):43–8.PubMedCrossRef
11.
Brent DA, Oquendo M, Birmaher B, et al. Familial pathways to early-onset suicide attempt: risk for suicidal behavior in offspring of mood-disordered suicide attempters. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002;59(9):801–7.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Evans E, Hawton K, Rodham K. Factors associated with suicidal phenomena in adolescents: a systematic review of population-based studies. Clin Psychol Rev. 2004;24(8):957–79.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Folayan MO, Adeniyi AA, Oziegbe EO, Fatusi AO, Harrison A. Integrated oral, mental and sexual health management for adolescents: a call for professional collaboration. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2016;30(3):20160060.CrossRef
14.
15.
Robins RW, Trzesniewski KH, Tracy JL, Gosling SD, Potter J. Global self-esteem across the life span. Psychol Aging. 2002;17(3):423–34.PubMedCrossRef
16.
The Lancet Child Adolescent Health. Oral health: oft overlooked. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2019;3(10):663.PubMedCrossRef
17.
18.
Folayan MO, Tantawi ME, Chukwumah NM, Alade M, Mapayi B, Oginni O, Arowolo O, Sam-Agudu NA. Associations between depression and gingivitis among adolescents resident in semi-urban South-West Nigeria. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21(1):55.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
19.
Folayan MO, Tantawi ME, Oginni O, Oziegbe E, Mapayi B, Arowolo O, Adeniyi AA, Sam-Agudu NA. Oral health practices and oral hygiene status as indicators of suicidal ideation among adolescents in Southwest Nigeria. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(2):e0247073.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
20.
Araoye MO. Research methodology with statistics for health and social sciences, vol. 115. Ilorin: Nathadex Publisher; 2003. p. 25–120.
21.
Adekoya-Sofowora CA, Nasir WO, Oginni AO, Taiwo M. Dental caries in 12-year-old suburban Nigerian school children. Afr Health Sci. 2006;6(3):145–50.PubMedPubMedCentral
22.
Olusanya O. The importance of social class in voluntary fertility control in a developing country. West Afr J Med. 1985;4:205–12.
23.
Folayan MO, Idehen EE, Ufomata D. The effect of sociodemographic factors on dental anxiety in children seen in a suburban Nigerian hospital. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2003;13:20–6.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Adelekan ML, Abiodun OA, Imouokhome-Obayan AO, Oni GA, Ogunremi OO. Psychosocial correlates of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use: findings from a Nigerian university. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1993;33(3):247–56.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Fatoye FO, Morakinyo O. Psychopathology among senior secondary school students in Ilesa, south western Nigeria. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2003;10(3):182–7.PubMed
26.
Gureje O. Reliability and the factor structure of the Yoruba version of the 12-item general health questionnaire. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1991;84(2):125–9.PubMedCrossRef
27.
28.
Adewuya AO, Ola BA, Afolabi OO. Validity of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool for depression amongst Nigerian university students. J Affect Disord. 2006;96(1–2):89–93.PubMedCrossRef
29.
Osman A, Bagge CL, Gutierrez PM, Konick LC, Kopper BA, Barrios FX. The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R): validation with clinical and nonclinical samples. Assessment. 2001;8:443–54.PubMedCrossRef
30.
Folayan MO, Khami MR, Onyejaka N, Popoola BO, Adeyemo YI. Preventive oral health practices of school pupils in Southern Nigeria. BMC Oral Health. 2014;14:83.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
31.
32.
Dimbuene ZT, Emina JB, Sankoh O. UNAIDS “multiple sexual partners” core indicator: promoting sexual networks to reduce potential biases. Glob Health Action. 2014;7:23103.PubMedCrossRef
33.
34.
Corah NL, Gale EN, Illig SJ. Assessment of a dental anxiety scale. J Am Dent Assoc. 1978;97(5):816–9.PubMedCrossRef
35.
McGrath C, Bedi R. The association between dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life in Britain. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2004;32(1):67–72.PubMedCrossRef
36.
Udoye CI, Oginni AO, Oginni FO. Dental anxiety among patients undergoing various dental treatments in a Nigerian teaching hospital. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2005;6(2):91–8.PubMedCrossRef
37.
Federal Ministry of Health. Guidelines for young persons’ participation in research and access to sexual and reproductive health services. 2014.
38.
Folayan MO, Odetoyinbo M, Harrison A, Brown B. Rape in Nigeria: a silent epidemic among adolescents with implications for HIV infection. Glob Health Action. 2014;7:25583.PubMedCrossRef
39.
Arbour-Nicitopoulos KP, Faulkner GE, Irving HM. Multiple health-risk behaviour and psychological distress in adolescence. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;21(3):171–8.PubMedPubMedCentral
40.
Taylor AH. Physical activity and depression in obesity. In: Bouchard C, Katzmarzyk PT, editors. Physical activity and obesity. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2010. p. 295–8.
41.
Larsen RJ. Toward a science of mood regulation. Psychol Inq. 2000;11(3):129–41.CrossRef
42.
Thayer RE, Newman JR, McClain TM. Self-regulation of mood: Strategies for changing a bad mood, raising energy, and reducing tension. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1994;67(5):910–25.PubMedCrossRef
43.
44.
Boricic K, Simic S, Eric JM. Demographic and socio-economic factors associated with multiple health risk behaviours among adolescents in Serbia: a cross sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2015;15(157):1–9.
45.
Kipping RR, Smith M, Heron J, Hickman M, Campbell R. Multiple risk behaviour in adolescence and socio-economic status: findings from a UK birth cohort. Eur J Public Health. 2015;25(1):44–9.PubMedCrossRef
46.
Atorkey P, Owiredua C. Clustering of multiple health risk behaviours and association with socio-demographic characteristics and psychological distress among adolescents in Ghana: a latent class analysis. SSM Popul Health. 2020;13:100707.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
47.
Seth P, Patel SN, Sales JM, DiClemente RJ, Wingood GM, Rose ES. The impact of depressive symptomatology on risky sexual behavior and sexual communication among African American female adolescents. Psychol Health Med. 2011;16(3):346–56.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
48.
Mazzaferro KE, Murray PJ, Ness RB, Bass DC, Tyus N. Cook RL Depression, stress, and social support as predictors of high-risk sexual behaviors and STIs in young women. J Adolesc Health. 2006;39(4):601–3.PubMedCrossRef
49.
Kalmbach DA, Ciesla JA, Janata JW, Kingsberg SA. Specificity of anhedonic depression and anxious arousal with sexual problems among sexually healthy young adults. J Sex Med. 2012;9(2):505–13.PubMedCrossRef
50.
Din HM, Shindel AW, Eisenberg ML, Breyer BN, Sharlip ID, Smith JF. Sexual function and depressive symptoms among female North American medical students. J Sex Med. 2011;8:391–9.CrossRef
51.
Nicolosi A, Moreira ED Jr, Villa M, Glasser DB. A population study of the association between sexual function, sexual satisfaction and depressive symptoms in men. J Affect Disord. 2004;82(2):235–43.PubMedCrossRef
52.
Akahbar SA, Ibrahim R. The association between depression and sexual satisfaction among Malay elderly in Malaysia. Heliyon. 2019;5(6):e01940.CrossRef
53.
Mezones-Holguin E, Córdova-Marcelo W, Lau-Chu-Fon F, Aguilar-Silva C, Morales-Cabrera J, Bolaños-Díaz R, Pérez-López FR, Chedraui P. Association between sexual function and depression in sexually active, mid-aged. Peruv Women Climact. 2011;14(6):654–60.
54.
Nguyen NT, Subasinghe AK, Wark JD, Reavley N, Garland SM. Psychological distress and risky sexual behaviours among women aged 16–25 years in Victoria, Australia. Aust Fam Physician. 2017;46(12):935.PubMed
55.
Rohde P, Noell J, Ochs L, Seeley JR. Depression, suicidal ideation and STD-related risk in homeless older adolescents. J Adolesc. 2001;24(4):447–60.PubMedCrossRef
56.
Lee E, Kim Y. A study on stress, depression and suicidal ideation according to sexual behaviours among Korean adolescents. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2018;26(3):215–22.PubMedCrossRef
57.
Armstrong G, Jorm AF, Samson L, Joubert L, Nuken A, Singh S, Kermode M. Association of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation with high-risk behaviors among men who inject drugs in Delhi, India. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013;64(5):502–10.PubMedCrossRef
58.
Sales JM, Spitalnick JS, Crittenden CP, Di Clemente RJ. Depression and sexual risk-taking in adolescents. In: Columbus F, editor. Sexual risk behaviors. Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers Inc.; 2009.
59.
Pechey R, Monsivais P. Socioeconomic inequalities in the healthiness of food choices: exploring the contributions of food expenditures. Prev Med. 2016;88:203–9.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
60.
Bolt-Evensen K, Vik FN, Stea TH, Klepp KI, Bere E. Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and artificially sweetened beverages from childhood to adulthood in relation to socioeconomic status–15 years follow-up in Norway. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2018;15(1):1–9.CrossRef
61.
Geckova A, van Dijk JP, Groothoff JW, Post D. Socio-economic differences in health risk behaviour and attitudes towards health risk behaviour among Slovak adolescents. Soz Praventivmed. 2002;47(4):233–9.PubMedCrossRef
62.
Tuinstra J, Groothoff JW, van den Heuvel WJ, Post D. Socio-economic differences in health risk behavior in adolescence: do they exist? Soc Sci Med. 1998;47(1):67–74.PubMedCrossRef
63.
Lee B, Seo DC. Socioeconomic disparities in health risk behavior clusterings among Korean adolescents. Int J Behav Med. 2018;25(5):540–7.PubMedCrossRef
64.
Hanson MD, Chen E. Socioeconomic status and health behaviors in adolescence: a review of the literature. J Behav Med. 2007;30(3):263–85.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Associations between mental health problems and risky oral and sexual behaviour in adolescents in a sub-urban community in Southwest Nigeria
Authors
Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan
Olaniyi Arowolo
Boladale Mapayi
Nneka Maureen Chukwumah
Michael A. Alade
Randa H. Yassin
Maha El Tantawi
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Oral Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6831
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-021-01768-w

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

BMC Oral Health 1/2021 Go to the issue

Case report

Atypical oral candidiasis in a psoriatic patient during targeted immunotherapy with an interleukin 17 inhibitor (secukinumab)

Research article

Interleukin-35 pathobiology in periodontal disease: a systematic scoping review

Research article

Survival of silver diamine fluoride among patients treated in community dental clinics: a naturalistic study

Research

A logistic analysis prediction model of TMJ condylar erosion in patients with TMJ arthralgia

Research article

Height difference between the vestibular and palatal walls and palatal width: a cone beam computed tomography approach

Research

Oral health of patients suffering from end-stage solid organ insufficiency prior to solid organ re-transplantation: a retrospective case series study