Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Oral Hygiene among Adult Patients Attending Dental Service in Muhima District Hospital, Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2321Abstract
The oral diseases affect nearly 3.9 billion people globally. Despite the efforts of government of Rwanda to achieve the 3rd sustainable development goal, in 2019, ‘tooth and gum disease’ ranked as the most commonly recorded complaint at district hospitals in Rwanda. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards oral hygiene among adult patients in Muhima District Hospital. The study on oral health knowledge, attitude and self-care practice were help the public health administrators and policy makers in specification of oral health policies to develop behavioral modifications strategies relevant to this area. The findings of this study were generating evidence that were form a basis to rely on by future researchers. This study was an academic merit to the researcher. A total of 322 adult patients who attended Muhima District Hospital during the study period were employed using a total sampling technique. Pretested questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered into SPSS version 26 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were employed to identify an association between the independent and dependent factors. Multivariate analysis was conducted to see the adjusted associations. Among adult patients with 35 years old and above who were attending Dental service Muhima District Hospital, the total score for oral hygiene knowledge was 61.5%, attitudes toward oral hygiene were 62.4%, and good oral hygiene practices were 77%.The odds of good oral hygiene practice were 2.20 times (AOR; 2.25: 95% C.I.; 0.76-2.46) more among urban place of residence compared to those from rural areas. Patients who knew a twice-daily tooth brushing were 2.25 times (AOR; 2.25: 95% C.I. 1.25-4.05) more likely to have good oral hygiene practices than those who did not. The odds of good oral hygiene practices were 1.85 times (AOR; 1.85: 95% C.I. 1.04-3.28) and 2.08 times (AOR; 1.85: 95% C.I. 1.09-3.99) more among those who believe that brushing teeth once per day is not enough and among individuals who had good knowledge on oral hygiene compared to their counterparts respectively and the association was found significant. In this study, no association was identified between positive attitude towards oral hygiene and good oral hygiene practices with a P-value =0.112. The study identified a significant knowledge gap in oral hygiene among adult patients at Muhima District Hospital. Factors like residence and knowledge of recommended daily tooth brushing were linked to oral hygiene practices. Interventions emphasizing regular brushing, especially in rural areas, and enhancing overall oral health awareness are crucial. The findings underscore a need for improved oral hygiene routines and regular dental check-ups.
Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Oral Hygiene, Adult Patients Attending Dental Service, Muhima District Hospital, Rwanda
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