Evaluation of oral health care seeking behavior in rural population of central India

Shravani G Deolia; Koyal S Kela; Ishita M Sawhney; Priyanka A Sonavane; Gargi Nimbulkar; Amit Reche

doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_990_19

Evaluation of oral health care seeking behavior in rural population of central India

J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Feb 28;9(2):886-891. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_990_19. eCollection 2020 Feb.

Authors

Shravani G Deolia¹, Koyal S Kela¹, Ishita M Sawhney¹, Priyanka A Sonavane¹, Gargi Nimbulkar¹, Amit Reche¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Objectives: To study the perception regarding common oral diseases and health seeking behaviour related to those diseases among rural population of central India.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of Wardha, Maharashtra on a population between the age group of 18 and above. Data was recorded by a self administered, structured questionnaire in this study. Questionnaire was based on oral health literacy and health seeking behaviour of participants.

Results: Study included 700 participants, 343 males and 347 females. Dental problem was reported by 68% of participants. Toothache was the most common dental problem reported. Government hospitals were chosen by 19% of participants as treatment centre. Fear 24.3% was found to be the major reason for not visiting the dentist.

Conclusion: Healthcare seeking behaviour among rural population towards oral diseases was poor. So efforts must be made to bring a change in this scenario.

Keywords: Awareness; oral health seeking behavior; patient delay; rural population.