Knowledge and oral health related behavior among visually impaired subjects in Jazan Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Knowledge and awareness of oral health issues are essential for prevention of dental and other associated systemic diseases. This study explores among visually impaired subjects living in Jazan region, with the respect to frequency and quality of use and the effect of type of blindness on the distribution of oral health related knowledge and behavior. Supervisors taking care of visually impaired subjects of different degrees were informed about the aim of the study. A total of 92 questionnaires were distributed randomly to be completed by the consent participants from each age group, gender and categories of blind situation. First, a consent letter was carefully read to the participants by the interviewer and data collected, and then processed and analyzed by means of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. In total, 71.5% total blinds and 63.6% partial blinds scored high in the knowledge of caries. The corresponding rates regarding the knowledge of gingivitis were 61.2 and 41.4%, respectively. The scores of knowledge of oral infection in relation to systemic disease were 31.1% total blinds and 29.3% partial blinds. Tooth brushing ≤2 times a day was confirmed by 44.2% total blinds and 42.4% partial blinds, respectively. Awareness of oral health issues is high among the study subjects, but specific misconceptions exist. There is equality in knowledge and practice of oral hygiene among the types of blind subjects. Key words: Knowledge, oral hygiene, toothbrush, oral health behaviour, visually impaired subjects.