Oral Health Status, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Adults in Hodeidah, Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study

الملخص

Background: Oral diseases are some of the most prevalent non-infectious diseases globally, posing a considerable threat to public health. In fact, caries and periodontal diseases impact the quality of life of people and pose significant health problems. Objective: This study aimed to determine the burden of oral diseases and assess  oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices and to investigate their association with clinical oral health status measured by the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index among adults in Hodeidah Governorate, Yemen. Methodology: The study was designed in cross-sectional study among 400 adults attending selected dental clinics and health centers in Hodeidah Governorate, Yemen. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics and oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Clinical oral examinations were performed according to World Health Organization criteria, and oral health status was assessed using the DMFT index. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: The demographic results indicated that there was a major gender disproportion with female respondents constituting 67.3% of the total sample size (p < 0.001). Age-wise, the majority of the sample population (94.25%) belonged to the age group of 18 to 49 years (p < 0.001). In terms of clinical findings, the most prevalent disease was dental caries at 86.8%, followed by the requirement of tooth extraction (65%), periodontal diseases (43.8%) and oral ulcers (12.3%). The mean DMFT was 5.47, indicating that there is an accumulation index of 2.16 decayed, 1.68 missing and 1.64 filled teeth. Additionally, the oral hygiene practice was less than ideal; only 37.5% brush their teeth twice a day, 23% do not feel the need to brush twice a day and 31.8% believe that dental caries are inevitable. Substance abuse was common, whereby 52.8% were found to chew khat, 21.5% smoke tobacco, and 7.8% smoke shamma; these variables exhibited a statistically significant association with oral health status (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Oral diseases constitute a substantial public health burden among adults in Hodeidah Yemen. The high prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth extraction needs highlights the need for improved oral health education, preventive programs, and access to dental care services.