Conference abstract
The relationship between oral health need and dental service utilization
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2022:13(2).31
Jan 2022.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2022.13.2.862
Archived on: 31 Jan 2022
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Dental service utilization, oral health needs, outreach, toothache
Oral presentation
The relationship between oral health need and dental service utilization
Toyin Adeseye Abimbola1,&, Omolola Titilayo Alade2, Folake Barakat Lawal2, Juliana Obontu Taiwo2
1Department of Oral Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2Department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral health need in a sample of staff and students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan and ascertain the relationship between oral health need and dental service utilization in this population.
Methods: a cross-sectional survey of members of staff and students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan who attended an Oral Health Outreach programme conducted by the doctors and students of the Department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan were recruited for this study. Oral health need was assessed both by self-report of need and by oral examination. Dental service utilization was determined by self-report of previous dental visits. Chi-square analysis was used to compare the proportion of individuals who had utilized dental services among those with oral health needs versus those without oral health needs at the 5% significance level.
Results: there were 113 respondents and 25.7% of them were male. The age range was from 18 to 32 years. Almost half of the participants (48.7%) gave a positive history of toothache but only 17.6% had ever been to a dentist and on clinical examination, 44.2% of the participants had an oral health need. Of those without an oral health need (57 respondents), only 7 respondents reported that they had ever been to a dentist.
Conclusion: the presence of oral health need did not translate into dental service utilization in this study. This calls for an improved oral health promotion efforts even among the literate members of the society.
The relationship between oral health need and dental service utilization
Toyin Adeseye Abimbola1,&, Omolola Titilayo Alade2, Folake Barakat Lawal2, Juliana Obontu Taiwo2
1Department of Oral Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2Department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral health need in a sample of staff and students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan and ascertain the relationship between oral health need and dental service utilization in this population.
Methods: a cross-sectional survey of members of staff and students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan who attended an Oral Health Outreach programme conducted by the doctors and students of the Department of Periodontology and Community Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan were recruited for this study. Oral health need was assessed both by self-report of need and by oral examination. Dental service utilization was determined by self-report of previous dental visits. Chi-square analysis was used to compare the proportion of individuals who had utilized dental services among those with oral health needs versus those without oral health needs at the 5% significance level.
Results: there were 113 respondents and 25.7% of them were male. The age range was from 18 to 32 years. Almost half of the participants (48.7%) gave a positive history of toothache but only 17.6% had ever been to a dentist and on clinical examination, 44.2% of the participants had an oral health need. Of those without an oral health need (57 respondents), only 7 respondents reported that they had ever been to a dentist.
Conclusion: the presence of oral health need did not translate into dental service utilization in this study. This calls for an improved oral health promotion efforts even among the literate members of the society.
