Table 2 Percentages of adults who reported experiencing an oral problem during the past 12 months by choice of oral health care in relation to selected predisposing factors
Independent variables | Used health facilities | Used self-medication | No treatment at all | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | % | % | |
Level of education obtained | ||||
High | 138 | 41.6c | 35.7 | 22.7 |
Low | 221 | 32.0 | 49.2 | 18.8 |
None | 445 | 21.8 | 50.9b | 27.3a |
Occupational status | ||||
Employee | 117 | 38.5b | 37.6 | 23.9 |
Housewife | 193 | 19.7 | 53.4 | 26.9 |
Independent workers | 306 | 27.5 | 48.1 | 23.5 |
Without occupation | 100 | 27.0 | 48.0 | 25.0 |
Others | 92 | 33.6 | 46.8 | 19.6 |
Religion | ||||
Christian/Animist | 345 | 34.5c | 40.9 | 24.6 |
Muslim | 456 | 23.6 | 52.7b | 23.7 |
Material living conditions of household | ||||
Low | 511 | 19.3 | 53.4c | 27.3a |
Medium | 162 | 35.8 | 44.4 | 19.8 |
High | 136 | 50.5c | 31.4 | 18.1 |
Type of house | ||||
Modern building materials | 219 | 40.6c | 36.5 | 21.5 |
Mixed building materials | 434 | 24.2 | 50.0 | 25.8 |
Traditional building materials (mud) | 154 | 19.5 | 56.5c | 23.4 |
Oral diseases are as important as other health problems | ||||
Agree | 671 | 30.4b | 47.7 | 21.9 |
Disagree | 89 | 14.6 | 46.1 | 39.3b |
Do not know | 46 | 17.4 | 56.5 | 26.1 |
Oral problems cause other general diseases | ||||
Agree | 520 | 29.4 | 50.6 | 20.0 |
Disagree | 68 | 22.1 | 41.2 | 36.7c |
Do not know | 207 | 24.7 | 44.4 | 30.9 |
Fluoride prevents tooth decay | ||||
Agree | 258 | 37.6c | 40.3 | 20.9 |
Disagree | 14 | 35.7 | 50.0 | 14.3 |
Do not know | 533 | 22.9 | 51.0a | 25.9 |
Dental visits to have important benefits | ||||
Agree | 596 | 31.9c | 46.3 | 21.8 |
Disagree | 49 | 23.4 | 53.2 | 23.4 |
Do not know | 162 | 14.2 | 52.5 | 33.3b |
Going to dentist is synonymous with pain | ||||
Agree | 353 | 36.9c | 41.9 | 21.2 |
Disagree | 229 | 33.3 | 45.8 | 20.9 |
Do not know | 225 | 8.5 | 59.3c | 32.2b |