Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / A good oral health self-perception can contribute to improved knowledge of oral health self-care
and practice as well as increase the proper use of dental care services. This study evaluated how
adolescents from urban and peri-urban Maputo City assess their oral health status, behaviour and
oral health risk factors. This is an analytic cross-sectional study, conducted in the urban and
peri-urban schools of Maputo City involving adolescents in the age groups of 12 and 15-19
years old. The study was carried out in five schools, three Complete Primary schools and two
Secondary schools from urban and peri-urban areas in Maputo City selected by convenience due
to their geographic location. The size of the sample was 500 comprising 236 twelve year olds
and 264 15-19 year olds. Data was collected using a self-completion questionnaire designed by
the World Health Organization (WHO) and translated into Portuguese. The questionnaire
included variables such as socio-demographic data (age, gender, location and parent or guardian
level of education), self-assessment of oral health status and quality of life; self reported oral
health behaviour and lifestyles, oral health risk factor knowledge (alcohol, tobacco and dietary),
dental visits and daily impact of oral health. Chi-square for associations and a Spearman
correlation tests were used to determine relationships between categorical data. All tests were
assumed statistically significant at p≤0.05. The results showed that most of the adolescents
classified their teeth (49.7%) and gum (38.2%) health as normal. There was no statistical
difference between adolescents from urban and peri-urban schools (Spearman rs (399) = 0,114, p
=0,02). The majority (n=322; 65.2%) of the adolescents clean their teeth twice a day. There was
no difference between school level (primary and secondary school) and frequency of teeth
cleaning. Most of the adolescents use a toothbrush (97.8%) and toothpaste (93.5%) to clean their
teeth and only 11.9% also use dental floss but 52.1% didn´t know if their toothpaste was
fluoridated or not. Smoking was reported by less than 1% of the adolescents. The main reason
for dental service utilization, (reported by 67.5%) was pain or problems with teeth, gums or
mouth. There was an association between oral health status and problems experienced in daily
life because of their teeth and mouth. There was no significant difference for oral health
assessment, risk factors and behaviours, between adolescents from urban and peri-urban schools.
Although some satisfactory results were found, the need to strengthen oral health promotion in
schools is high, especially considering the causes for dental service utilization were mostly pain
and trouble with teeth in this group.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uwc/oai:etd.uwc.ac.za:11394/6625 |
| Date | January 2019 |
| Creators | Mepatia, Amália Issufo |
| Contributors | Myburgh, Neil |
| Publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | University of the Western Cape |
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