Main Article Content
Oral hygiene profile of inmates in a correctional home
Abstract
Background: Prisoners are a vulnerable and socially deprived group requiring dental care intervention. They are often neglected with little or no access to health care and poor oral hygiene may be an additional burden.
Objectives: To assess the oral hygiene status of prison inmates and investigate its relationship to socio-demographic variables.
Method: The study was design as a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Inmates were selected by systematic random sampling from two prisons in Benin City and data was collected by means of structured interview followed by clinical examination which involved assessment of oral hygiene status using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S).
Results: The mean OHI-S score for the group was 1.96 ± 0.07. There was a significant increase of mean OHI-S with age (P = 0.00). Inmates who cleaned their teeth with toothbrush and paste had significant better oral hygiene status than those who did with chewing stick (P = 0.01). Few inmates had access to oral hygiene aids and good oral hygiene was observed in 22.1% of the inmates.
Conclusion: This study showed that sex, age and oral hygiene practices were significantly related to oral hygiene status and fewer respondents had access to oral hygiene aids.
Key words: Oral Hygiene, Prison, Inmates, Benin City.
Objectives: To assess the oral hygiene status of prison inmates and investigate its relationship to socio-demographic variables.
Method: The study was design as a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Inmates were selected by systematic random sampling from two prisons in Benin City and data was collected by means of structured interview followed by clinical examination which involved assessment of oral hygiene status using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S).
Results: The mean OHI-S score for the group was 1.96 ± 0.07. There was a significant increase of mean OHI-S with age (P = 0.00). Inmates who cleaned their teeth with toothbrush and paste had significant better oral hygiene status than those who did with chewing stick (P = 0.01). Few inmates had access to oral hygiene aids and good oral hygiene was observed in 22.1% of the inmates.
Conclusion: This study showed that sex, age and oral hygiene practices were significantly related to oral hygiene status and fewer respondents had access to oral hygiene aids.
Key words: Oral Hygiene, Prison, Inmates, Benin City.
