Oral health status and oral health related quality of life in Kodhu tribes – A descriptive cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: In this modern era, a significant group of people is living in isolated hilly areas far away from civilization with their custom and beliefs. They are known as “tribes.” “Kodhu” tribe is one of the major Indian tribes present in the remote areas of Visakhapatnam. The objective is to assess the oral health status and oral health-related quality of life and education level in Kodhu Tribe in residing in Araku and Paderu regions of Visakhapatnam. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the Kodhu tribal population situated in the Araku and Paderu areas Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The study comprised of 800 participants selected using a simple random sampling technique. Chi-square test was used to assess the oral health status of the tribal population, while, independent t-test was used for multiple comparison of OHIP-14 and oral health status. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 800 participants, 458 were illiterate, and 342 were literate. The prevalence of dental caries was 49% among the illiterates while literates had 50.4% prevalence and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.03). The periodontal status prevalence was found to be higher in illiterates (56.4%). The domains that are present in OHIP were found to be significantly associated with dental caries, periodontal status, and oral mucosal lesions (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The oral health status of Kodhu tribe was found to have high prevalence of the periodontal disease and dental caries. Regular oral examination by dental professionals, dental health education, and motivation to maintain oral hygiene should be insisted to improve the oral health status of this tribal community.

Keywords

• education status
• oral health
• quality of life
• tribes