Oral Health Needs and Barriers among Children in Saudi Arabia

Heba Jafar Sabbagh (), Sarah Abdullah Aljehani, Bayan Mohammed Abdulaziz, Nada Zafer Alshehri, Maryam Omar Bajkhaif, Shatha Khalid Alrosini, Reham Mohammed Al-Amoudi and Heba Mohamed Elkhodary
Additional contact information
Heba Jafar Sabbagh: Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
Sarah Abdullah Aljehani: Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
Bayan Mohammed Abdulaziz: Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
Nada Zafer Alshehri: Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
Maryam Omar Bajkhaif: Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
Shatha Khalid Alrosini: Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
Reham Mohammed Al-Amoudi: Pediatric Dentistry Department, Taif Dental Specialty Center, Ministry of Health, Taif 26514, Saudi Arabia
Heba Mohamed Elkhodary: Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-11

Abstract: (1) Background: Understanding oral health needs and barriers is important to overcome the oral disease burden, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess oral health needs and barriers among Saudi children after the COVID-19 pandemic wave started. (2) Methods: Parents of healthy children aged 3–11 years from five regions of Saudi Arabia were surveyed using an electronically administered validated questionnaire from Febuary-2021 to July-2021. Oral lesions/manifestations during the last 12 months reported by parents included tooth discoloration, ulcers, abscess, swelling of the gingiva, halitosis, gingival bleeding, dry mouth, pain while eating, difficulty in speaking or eating, burning sensation, and white spots. Barriers were assessed according to the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire. (3) Results: Children experiencing toothaches were reported by 1098 (72.4%) respondents. When reported, oral manifestations and lesions were associated with a higher inability to visit a dentist ( p < 0.001). Barriers to dental care were more frequent among parents with lower education ( p < 0.001; adjusted-odds ratio (AOR), 1.815) and a greater number of children ( p < 0.001; AOR, 1.197). (4) Conclusion: Parents reported a high frequency of unmet oral health needs. Education could play an important role in improving oral health care in children and as a predictor of public health concerns.

Keywords: oral health needs; oral health barriers; accessibility; children; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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