KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS MAINTENANCE OF GOOD ORAL HEALTH AND UTILIZATION OF DENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SAKAKA AL JOUF, A CROSS SECTIONAL DISCRIPTIVE STUDY

Dr. Nighat Zia Jalbani*, Dr. Mohammad Nadeem Baig, Nawaf Saleh Alanazi, Abdulsalam M. Alanazi, Sultan Eid Alamer, Fayez Alazmi

ABSTRACT

Objective: The main objective of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitudes of adults towards maintenance of good oral health and utilization of dental health services available in Sakaka Al Jouf. Methodology: Using cross-sectional descriptive study design, 500 self-administered (Arabic/English) questionnaire was randomly distributed to adult males and females in Sakaka (urban/rural) AL Jouf, Saudi Arabia. The collected data was statistically analyzed using SPSS (version 20, Chicago.inc). Chi square test is used to compare categorical variables and t test for continuous variables. Pilot study was conducted using 10 questionnaires which were pretested to ensure check the feasibility of variables applied and modifications were done accordingly. Results: 500 questionnaires were collected, 48 forms were excluded for less than 20 years. Lack of motivation for maintaining good oral hygiene specially in older adults is one of the important findings of study with significant p value (P<00.02). On the other hand the major finding which explains the merit of this study giving an estimate of utilization of dental care services in Sakaka reveals the inadequate number of periodic dental visits among all age groups (P<0.000) indicating under-utilization of dental services, that is out of total of 452 participants 384 (85%) do not go for routine dental check-ups. Conclusion: Need of more vigorous oral health promotion and educational activities stressing on routine dental check-ups, need to increase number of preventive dental strategies, increase number of dental facilities and professionals in the region to compensate for prolong appointments.

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