Health Professionals Oral Health Knowledge and Practice: Unleashing the Hidden Challenges

Abstract

Dawit Kumilachew Yimenu,1 Eyerusalem Shello Adelo,2 Ebrahim Abdela Siraj,3 Tadael Assaye Kassie,4 Workineh Woldeselassie Hammeso,5 Chilot Abiyu Demeke,1 Yohannes Kelifa Emiru6 1Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Internal Medicine, Addis Alem Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 5Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Teferi, Ethiopia; 6Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Dawit Kumilachew YimenuDepartment of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaTel [phone]Email [email protected]: Dental disease is one of the major prevalent preventable public health challenges that resulted in a significant burden on children and adults. The aim of the current study was to identify oral health-related knowledge and practice among Bahir Dar community health care providers and the perceived barriers to oral health care services.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used for data collection, and SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. A chi-square test was used to determine the association between study variables, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance.Results: A total of 281 interviews were conducted. Doctors had the highest mean knowledge score value of 4.67 followed by dentists with a mean score of 4.5. The majority of the study participants (59.4%) reported that they use a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for brushing their teeth, and a statistically significant difference was observed between different types of health professionals. The majority of the study participants (80.1 and 70.8%) reported limited finances and lack of adequate health/dental insurance as a barrier to oral health care services, respectively.Conclusion: Oral health-related knowledge of health professionals in Bahir Dar city is low. Oral health topics must be incorporated into the health care professionals training programs and continuing medical education. Health professionals should master basic oral health-related knowledge, and they should practice basic oral health care practices to become role models for their patients.Keywords: oral health, dental care, health professionals, tooth brushing, health practice

Keywords

• oral health
• dental care
• health professionals
• tooth brushing
• health practice