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Oral health status of fishermen and non-fishermen community of Kutch district, Gujarat, India: a comparative study
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Abstract
Background: Fishing is one such hazardous occupation, which involves irregular diet, stress, alcoholism, tobacco and pernicious habits. Fishermen have lower socio-economic status and their illiteracy adds to their poor oral hygiene, which may influence general and oral health.
Aim: The aim of the study was to assess and compare the oral health status of fishermen and non-fishermen population of Kutch District, Gujarat, India.
Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess and compare the oral health status of the fishermen and non-fishermen community of Mundra taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat, India, from January 2013 to June 2013.
Results: Fishermen had significantly higher periodontal disease and dental caries than non-fishermen group (p = 0.001). Malocclusion was significantly higher in non-fishermen group (p = 0.001). Extraction was the most prevalent treatment need among both groups. Occupation and educational status were respectively identified as the best predictors for dental caries and periodontal disease.
Conclusions: Findings of the present study suggest that oral health status of the fishermen population wasrelatively poor, with high caries prevalence and poor periodontal health when compared to the non-fishermen population. In the light of high treatment needs of the study population, health policy that emphasises oral health promotion and prevention would seem more advantageous in addition to traditional curative care.
Abstract
Background: Fishing is one such hazardous occupation, which involves irregular diet, stress, alcoholism, tobacco and pernicious habits. Fishermen have lower socio-economic status and their illiteracy adds to their poor oral hygiene, which may influence general and oral health.
Aim: The aim of the study was to assess and compare the oral health status of fishermen and non-fishermen population of Kutch District, Gujarat, India.
Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess and compare the oral health status of the fishermen and non-fishermen community of Mundra taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat, India, from January 2013 to June 2013.
Results: Fishermen had significantly higher periodontal disease and dental caries than non-fishermen group (p = 0.001). Malocclusion was significantly higher in non-fishermen group (p = 0.001). Extraction was the most prevalent treatment need among both groups. Occupation and educational status were respectively identified as the best predictors for dental caries and periodontal disease.
Conclusions: Findings of the present study suggest that oral health status of the fishermen population wasrelatively poor, with high caries prevalence and poor periodontal health when compared to the non-fishermen population. In the light of high treatment needs of the study population, health policy that emphasises oral health promotion and prevention would seem more advantageous in addition to traditional curative care.
Keywords
cross-sectional, fishermen, Kutch, oral health
About this articleTitle
Oral health status of fishermen and non-fishermen community of Kutch district, Gujarat, India: a comparative study
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
1-6
Published online
2014-03-24
Page views
2415
Article views/downloads
3618
DOI
10.5603/MH.2014.0001
Bibliographic record
IMH 2014;65(1):1-6.
Keywords
cross-sectional
fishermen
Kutch
oral health
Authors
Kailash Asawa
Piyush Pujara
Mridula Tak
Ramesh Nagarajappa
Pankaj Aapaliya
Nikhil Bhanushali
Prashant Mishra
Abhishek Sharma
