Abstract

RODRIGUEZ SALVA, Armando; ALFONSO SAGUE, Karen  and  BONET GORBEA, Mariano. Oral hygiene practices and sociodemographic characteristics. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2008, vol.46, n.3. ISSN 0253-1751.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the frequency and distribution of the carrying out of preventive activities related to oral cancer and other periodontal diseases according to age, sex, educational level, and residence place. METHODS: a cross-sectional study with a complex sampling design, stratified by polystage groups, was conducted. The universe included the urban Cuban population aged 15 and over. A representative sample was taken by province for a total of 22 851 subjects. Home interviews were made to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and on some behaviors and preventive actions. RESULTS: 96.6 % of the surveyed referred that they brushed their teeth daily; 34.7 % said that the health staff tougth them how to perform the oral self-examination, whereas 33.9 % carried out this procedure. 38.7 % underwent oral examination. The percentage of these activities was greater in females and at young ages. CONCLUSIONS: these results showed the need to increase the preventive activities in the National Health System by means of training, implementation and control for the early prevention of oral cancer and other periodontal disorders.

Keywords : Preventive activities; health survey; oral cancer; oral hygiene; epidemiology.

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