Relationship between oral health literacy and oral health behaviors, knowledge and dental status in Portuguese military enlisted adults

Abstract

Objectives

The objective of this study was to describe oral health literacy and its

association with oral health behaviors, knowledge and dental status in

Portuguese military enlisted adults.

Methods

The Portuguese version of the Oral Health Literacy Instrument (OHLI)

was applied to 274 enlistees at the Escola da Guarda in Portalegre,

Portugal, in a cross-sectional study. Information on sociodemographic,

dental status and oral health literacy was collected.

Results

There is a high number (45.3%) of individuals with marginal or

inadequate levels of literacy. Assessment of dental status also revealed

oral health care needs. Females have better oral health knowledge than

males (p=0.034) and individuals with a bachelor’s degree have better oral

health knowledge than those with at least high school (P<0.001). The

higher number of visits to the dentist increases the number of filled teeth

(p<0.001) and DMFT (p=0.01). The variables that influences DMFT the most are “frequency of dentist visits”

(p<0.01) and “age group” (p=0.011).

Conclusion

There is the need for implementation and improvement of existing oral health promotion activities, namely

the introduction of oral health topics in the curriculum and the implementation of an oral health education

and promotion program for enlisted personnel at the Escola da Guarda.