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Prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status and treatment needs among seafarers and trainee sailors in the state of Goa, India: a descriptive cross-sectional study
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Affiliations- Department of Public Health Dentistry, KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka India
- Department of Periodontics, KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka India
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Abstract
Background: The fixed regimen and strict dietary habits of seafarers and trainee sailors, make them susceptible to several oral diseases. The aim of the study was to assess prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status and treatment needs among seafarers and trainee sailors in the state of Goa. Materials and methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2023 to March 2023. After a pilot study, convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 261 participants. The investigators were standardized and calibrated to record World Health Organization Oral Health Assessment Form (1997) and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) which were instrumented in the study. Intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability scores were recorded using kappa statistics (0.81, 0.83) and (0.83, 0.85), respectively. The data was analysed using descriptive analysis, chi-square test, Mann- -Whitney U test and multivariate linear regression analysis at statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05). Results: The mean ages of seafarers (n = 133) and trainee sailors (n = 128) were 36.41 ± 6.40, and 25.36 ± 7.39, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries among seafarers and trainee sailors was determined to be 59% and 78%, respectively (p = 0.01). The mean OHI-S score of seafarers (1.31 ± 0.68) and trainee sailors (1.53 ± 0.82) was statistically significant (p = 0.015). Conclusions: Seafarers and trainee sailors demonstrated high caries prevalence and poor oral hygiene status due to their distinctive lifestyle, representing a vulnerable community in terms of oral health.
Abstract
Background: The fixed regimen and strict dietary habits of seafarers and trainee sailors, make them susceptible to several oral diseases. The aim of the study was to assess prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status and treatment needs among seafarers and trainee sailors in the state of Goa. Materials and methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2023 to March 2023. After a pilot study, convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 261 participants. The investigators were standardized and calibrated to record World Health Organization Oral Health Assessment Form (1997) and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) which were instrumented in the study. Intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability scores were recorded using kappa statistics (0.81, 0.83) and (0.83, 0.85), respectively. The data was analysed using descriptive analysis, chi-square test, Mann- -Whitney U test and multivariate linear regression analysis at statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05). Results: The mean ages of seafarers (n = 133) and trainee sailors (n = 128) were 36.41 ± 6.40, and 25.36 ± 7.39, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries among seafarers and trainee sailors was determined to be 59% and 78%, respectively (p = 0.01). The mean OHI-S score of seafarers (1.31 ± 0.68) and trainee sailors (1.53 ± 0.82) was statistically significant (p = 0.015). Conclusions: Seafarers and trainee sailors demonstrated high caries prevalence and poor oral hygiene status due to their distinctive lifestyle, representing a vulnerable community in terms of oral health.
Keywords
dental caries, maritime dentistry, occupational health, oral health, oral hygiene, seafarers, trainee sailors
About this articleTitle
Prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status and treatment needs among seafarers and trainee sailors in the state of Goa, India: a descriptive cross-sectional study
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
105-111
Published online
2023-06-30
Page views
1352
Article views/downloads
406
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
IMH 2023;74(2):105-111.
Keywords
dental caries
maritime dentistry
occupational health
oral health
oral hygiene
seafarers
trainee sailors
Authors
Claire-Rose Pereira
Sagar Jalihal
Anil V. Ankola
Fleur Maria Dias
Atrey J. Pai Khot
Jasleen Thakker
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