Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Dental health problems and treatment-seeking behavior among special need school students in Amhara region, Ethiopia

Authors: Amare Teshome Tefera, Biruk Girma, Aynishet Adane, Abebe Muche, Tadesse Awoke Ayele, Kefyalew Ayalew Getahun, Zelallem Aniley, Semira Ali, Simegnew Handebo

Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

World Health Organization, “Disability and health,” 2020. [Online]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health. Accessed April, 2021.

UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, “Promoting social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Ethiopia.” http://unprpd.org/sites/default/files/library/2019-06/Ethiopia-web.pdf. Accessed April, 2021.

World Health Organization, “Oral health,” 2020. [Online]. Available: file: https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/oral-health Accessed April, 2021.

Ajami BA, Shabzendedar M, Rezay YA, Asgary M. Dental treatment needs of children with disabilities. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects. 2007;1(2):93–8. https://doi.org/10.5681/joddd.2007.016.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zhou N, Wong HM, Wen YF, Mcgrath C. Oral health status of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13486.

James SL, et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32279-7.

Zamani AR. Oral health for children with disabilities and special needs. Calif Childcare Heal Progr. 2010.

United Nation, “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol,” 2006.

World Health Organization, “10 Facts on disability,” 2020. [Online]. https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/disabilities. Accessed April, 2021.

10.

Gallagher J, Scambler S. Disability and oral health. Learn Disabil. 2012. https://doi.org/10.5772/34299.CrossRef

11.

Bundy DAP, de Silva N, Horton S, Patton GC, Schultz L, Jamison DT. Child and adolescent health and development: realizing neglected potential. in Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 8): Child and Adolescent Health and Development, 2017.

12.

Olenja JM. Editorial Health Seeking Behaviour in context. East African Med J. 2003;80(2):61–2.

13.

Mackian S. A review of health seeking behaviour: problems and prospects. Heal Syst Dev Prog. 2003. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08d1de5274a27b200163d/05-03_health_seeking_behaviour.pdf

14.

McIntyre D, Thiede M, Birch S. Access as a policy-relevant concept in low- and middle-income countries. Heal Econ Policy Law. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1744133109004836.

15.

Briggs RA. Normative theories of rational choice: expected utility. Stanford Encycl. Philos. (Fall 2019 Ed., 2019, [Online]. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2019/entries/rationality-normative-utility.

16.

N. Uguru, O. Onwujekwe, C. Uguru, U. Ogu, C. Okwuosa, and C. Okeke, “Oral health-seeking behavior among different population groups in Enugu Nigeria,” PLoS One, vol. 16, no. 2 February, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246164.

17.

Mitiche A, Ben Ayed I. Basic methods. Springer Top Signal Process. 2011;5:33–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15352-5_3.CrossRef

18.

Ward LM, Cooper SA, Hughes-McCormack L, Macpherson L, Kinnear D. Oral health of adults with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review. J Intellectual Disabil Res. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12632.

19.

Alkhabuli JOS, Essa EZ, Al-Zuhair AM, Jaber AA. Oral health status and treatment needs for children with special needs: A cross-sectional study. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clin Integr. 2019;. https://doi.org/10.4034/PBOCI.2019.191.127.CrossRef

20.

Choi NK, Yang KH. A study on the dental disease of the handicapped. J Dent Child. 2003;70(2).

21.

Pérez-Bejarano NM, et al. Oral health in adolescents with disabilities from centro de educación especial san miguel, Guarambaré, Paraguay. Rev. Fac. Odontol. 2017;29(1): 51–64. https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rfo.v29n1a3.

22.

Wilson NJ, et al. Countering the poor oral health of people with intellectual and developmental disability: a scoping literature review. BMC Public Health. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7863-1.

23.

Icek A. The theory of planned behavior organizational behavior and human decision processes. Organ Behav Hum Decis Process. 2019;50(2).

24.

Sung C. Oral health problems faced by children with special needs. 2017. https://www.choice-dental.com.au/oral-health-problems-faced-children-special-needs/.

25.

Oredugba FA, Akindayomi Y. Oral health status and treatment needs of children and young adults attending a day centre for individuals with special health care needs. BMC Oral Health. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-8-30.

26.

Sannicandro T, Parish SL, Son E, Powell RM. Health care changes for children with special health care needs, 2005–2011. Matern Child Health J. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2136-4.CrossRefPubMed

27.

Da Rosa SV, et al. Barriers in access to dental services hindering the treatment of people with disabilities: a systematic review. Int J Dent. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9074618.

28.

Wallace B, et al. Self-reported oral health among a community sample of people experiencing social and health inequities: Cross-sectional findings from a study to enhance equity in primary healthcare settings. BMJ Open. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009519.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Title: Dental health problems and treatment-seeking behavior among special need school students in Amhara region, Ethiopia
Authors: Amare Teshome Tefera
Biruk Girma
Aynishet Adane
Abebe Muche
Tadesse Awoke Ayele
Kefyalew Ayalew Getahun
Zelallem Aniley
Semira Ali
Simegnew Handebo
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/s12903-021-01856-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Dental health problems and treatment-seeking behavior among special need school students in Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

Prevalence of complex root canal morphology in the mandibular first and second premolars in Thai population: CBCT analysis

The influence of change on sense of coherence on dental services use among adolescents: a two-year prospective follow-up study

The use of internet platforms for oral health information and associated factors among adolescents from Jakarta: a cross sectional study

A prospective comparative study to assess the risk of postoperative bleeding after dental surgery while on medication with direct oral anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, or vitamin K antagonists

Experiences of oral health: before, during and after becoming a regular user of GC Tooth Mousse Plus®

Evaluation of the effect of vitamin D3 on mandibular condyles in an ovariectomized mouse model: a micro-CT study