Is Oral Health Literacy a Predictor of Periodontal Health Knowledge, Subjectively Rated Periodontal Status, Oral Self-Care Behaviour and Dental Attendance?

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between oral health literacy, periodontal health knowledge, subjectively rated periodontal health status, oral selfcare behaviour and dental attendance.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Indices used were Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 (REALD-30), index of periodontal health knowledge (PHK), index of subjectively rated periodontal status (SPS) and index for oral hygiene behaviour (OHB). Data were subjected to Chi square and binary regression statistics using the IBM SPSS version 21.0.

Results: A total number of 26 (12.5%) participants had poor subjectively rated periodontal health status, 55 (26.4%) had low periodontal health knowledge, 82 (39.4%) had poor oral self-care behaviour and 99 (47.6%) had never attended dental clinic. More of the participants with low oral health literacy had poor periodontal health status (p = 0.026; OR = 2.785, 95% CI = 1.129 – 6.873), low periodontal health knowledge (p = 0.021; OR = 2.192, 95% CI = 1.128 – 4.260), poor oral selfcare behaviour (p < 0.01; OR = 4.935, 95% CI = 2.592 – 9.394) and never visited the dentist (p = 0.590; OR = 1.174, 95% CI = 0.654 – 2.108) when compared to those with high oral health literacy.

Conclusion: The present study revealed that oral health literacy was a positive significant predictor of oral selfcare behaviour, periodontal health knowledge and status among the participants. Oral health promotion strategies directed at improving oral health literacy in adult populations will boost periodontal health knowledge, subjectively rated periodontal health status and oral self-care.