Associated Factors of Oral Health Status in Working-age Population at Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province

Abstract

Objective: To study the oral health status and associated factors in working-age population at Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province.

Method: This is a descriptive research in working-age population at Amphawa District, Samut  Songkhram Province. The samples were divided into four groups, 20-29 years old, 30-39 years old, 40-49 years old, and 50-59 years old. The 622 persons were obtained by random sampling with probability proportional to size (PPS). The samples were interviewed and oral comprehensive evaluated by the dentist from December 2015 through February 2016. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics included percentage, mean and also chi-square test to determine the association among different factors.

Result: 70.3 percent were female, the average income was 8,970 baht per month, 62.9 percent were married, 34.9 percent accomplished Grade schools, 74.9 percent were covered by Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) and 21.1 percent had underlying diseases. During the year 2015, 46.8 percent used to access to dental services, 36.4 percent usually selected the government hospitals, 47.6 percent underwent oral comprehensive evaluation, and 59.6 percent visited the dental clinic with aim to recover from sickness. Mean number of functional teeth was 24.2 by person, 80.1 percent had at least 4 couple functional posterior teeth. Mean of DMFT was 10.8 and 15.0 percent were periodontitis especially who was at least 40 years old. No premalignant oral lesion was seen. About need for dental services, 75.6 percent needed dental scaling, 61.7 percent needed dental filling, 44.7 percent needed teeth extraction, and 33.3 percent needed dentures. Factors affected the oral health status in working-age population at Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province statistically and significantly (p-value ≤ 0.01) were six factors, including sex, age, incomes, level of education, scheme of health insurance, and oral examination by dentists or dental nurses. Both incomes at least 20,000 baht per month and graduation at least diploma level had affected the oral health status. Persons under Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) had less numbers of decayed teeth but more numbers of filled teeth while who under UCS had more periodontitis. Oral comprehensive evaluated persons had much more numbers of filled teeth, normal gingiva and periodontium.

Recommendations: Oral comprehensive evaluation is the important dental service for good oral health status in the working-age population. Also, the educational system should be developed especially the contents of compulsory education for the better population’s oral health status in the future.