Keywords
Mouth neoplasms
Myths
Nepal
Oral health
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Developing countries face challenges like lack of awareness, poor accessibility, and false perception towards oral health. This has created blockade to good oral health. Southeast Asia countries have low oral health literacy and higher myths.
Objectives: To determine prevalence of oral health related myths and misconceptions among patients visiting Dhankuta district hospital of eastern Nepal.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from 2020 December to 2021 March among 395 individuals visiting study site. Convenience sampling method was used to select participants, after ethical approval. Interview was done to identify prevalence of oral health-related myths. Data were analysed in SPSS v.20. Mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage were calculated depending upon data. Chi-square test was done to determine association between categorical variables.
Results: Out of 395 individuals interviewed, 203 (51.4%) were males. Among them, 362 (91.7%) believed in at least one myth regarding oral health: 295 (74.7%) had at least one myth-related to dental caries, 271 (68.6%) regarding oral hygiene, 146 (37.0%) related to oral cancer, and 257 (65.1%) regarding general aspect of dentistry. Myths regarding dental caries were significantly associated with age (p = 0.034). Significant association was seen between educational level and myths regarding dental caries (p = 0.004), oral cancer (p ?0.001), and general dental aspect (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Study findings concluded that myths related to dentistry were prevalent among study participants. Behavioural change through oral health awareness should be targeted for promoting oral health in the community and nation as a whole.
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