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. 2022 May 6;22(1):167.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02199-x.

Oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practice among visually impaired subjects in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Wondwossen Fantaye  1 , Abdela Nur  2 , Getachew Kifle  3 , Fasikawit Engida  4
Affiliations

Oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practice among visually impaired subjects in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Wondwossen Fantaye et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Oral health is a global issue. It has an enormous impact on the overall health and well-being of an individual. In addition, many studies indicate visual impairment as one of the constraints for proper maintenance of oral hygiene. However, little is known about visually impaired individuals' oral health knowledge and behavior in Ethiopia, specifically in Addis Ababa. Therefore, this study is conducted to assess the oral health knowledge and related behaviors among participants with visual impairment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practice among visually impaired participants in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is initially imperative to recognize the deficiency of data regarding the dental health care and needs of such visually impaired individuals in Ethiopia.

Methods: It is a quantitative cross-section study design carried out at the Ethiopian National Association for the blind, located in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. A survey was conducted by convenience sampling of visually impaired library attendees' at the blind association. Sixty-five individuals, of which 46 males and 19 females, agreed to take part in the study. Of these, 30.8% had partial and 69.2% total visual impairment.

Results: 61.3% with totally and 72% with partially visually impaired scored high in the knowledge of caries causes respectively. The use of tooth brushing was confirmed by 42.2% with totally and 25% with partially visually impaired. The use of Traditional chewing sticks was confirmed by 57.7% with totally and 30% with partially visually impaired individuals. Moreover, both (Toothbrush and Traditional chewing stick) was used by 35.5% totally and 55% partially visually impaired individuals, respectively.

Conclusions: The study showed the awareness about the causes of dental caries among the visually impaired was high. However, the majority of them had a significant misconception about the causes of dental caries.

Keywords: Chewing stick; Oral health knowledge; Tooth brushing; Visual impairment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentage distribution (%) of the study participants, socio-demographic characteristics and types of blindness
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentage distribution (%) of the study participants, oral health knowledge items, causes of dental caries and types of blindness
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Percentage distribution (%) of the study participants, frequency of tooth cleaning tool, brush type and type of blindness
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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