Prevalence of Edentulism, Associated Factors, Perceived Treatment Needs and Barriers for Dental Care among the Elderly in a Rural Area of Puducherry, India: A Communitybased Mixed-method Study
Introduction: Edentulism is a significant cause of poor oral health among the elderly in India. It affects their quality of life, particularly in terms of nutrition, phonetics and aesthetics. Most studies assessing edentulism in India are hospital-based, which may not provide an accurate represe...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20596/74405_CE[Ra1]_F(SL)_QC(PS_SS)_PF1(RI_SL)_redo_PB(RI_IS)_PN(IS).pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Introduction: Edentulism is a significant cause of poor oral
health among the elderly in India. It affects their quality of life,
particularly in terms of nutrition, phonetics and aesthetics. Most
studies assessing edentulism in India are hospital-based, which
may not provide an accurate representation of the general
population. Therefore, community-based studies are essential
to accurately estimate the prevalence of edentulism and enable
the planning of specific strategies to promote oral health.
Aim: To estimate the prevalence of partial and complete
edentulism, identify the associated factors, assess the
treatment needs and evaluate the perceived barriers influencing
the treatment needs of the affected population.
Materials and Methods: This was a community-based, mixedmethod study conducted in Department of Preventive and
Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical
Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India. The study
was carried out over six months from May 2017 to October 2017
and included 328 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above.
A pretested semi-structured proforma was used to collect data.
Quantitative data on the extent of partial and complete edentulism
and treatment needs were collected, while perceived barriers
to seeking treatment were assessed qualitatively through indepth interviews. Data analysis was performed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0, with
a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 71.4±7.6 years.
The overall prevalence of edentulism was found to be 297
(90.5%) (95% CI=86.7%-93.2%). Of these, partial edentulism
was found in 253 (13.4%) (95% CI=72.1%-81.4%), while 13.4%
(95% CI=10.1%-17.7%) were completely edentulous. Out of
the 297 edentate subjects, 65 (22%) participants reported
a perceived need for dental treatment, while 232 (78%) did
not perceive a need. Similarly, 285 (96%) participants were
professionally determined to need dental treatment and 12
(4%) did not require dental treatment. Age, gender and tobacco
use had a statistically significant association with edentulism
(p-value <0.05). About 227 (76.4%) of the edentate subjects
reported difficulty in chewing. The striking findings revealed a
low level of denture use among the participants, with only 20
(6.7%) of the 297 edentulous individuals using dentures. The
most common perceived barriers to treatment were a lack of
awareness regarding oral health, unaffordability and a lack of
social support.
Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of edentulism
among the elderly, with significant disparities between perceived
and actual needs for prosthetic treatment. Only a small proportion
of participants use dentures or seek dental care, emphasising the
importance of targeted interventions to raise oral health awareness,
reduce treatment costs and provide social support. Policymakers
should prioritise oral health promotion programs for the elderly in
order to bridge these gaps and improve their quality of life. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |