Abstract

LAWAL, UI; IBRAHIM, R  and  RAMPHOMA, KJ. Demographic correlates of oral hygiene among stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2019, vol.74, n.7, pp.364-369. ISSN 0375-1562.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2019/v74no7a2.

INTRODUCTION: Oral-related health does not primarily attract attention among healthcare providers during planning and processing of rehabilitation after stroke. AIM: To investigate demographic correlates of oral-hygiene among stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the socio-demographic correlates of oral hygiene in stroke survivors receiving rehabilitation at the National Hospital Abuja (NHA), Nigeria. Sixty stroke survivors participated in this study. Sociodemographic factors of age, sex, education, socioeconomic status, type of stroke, duration of stroke and arm dominance were documented. Oral-hygiene was assessed using the Simplified Oral-Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14). Descriptive and correlation statistics were used to analyse the data collected. RESULTS: Results showed that more than half of the participants have had either poor or a fair level of oral-hygiene (23% and 30% respectively). Oral hygiene correlated significantly positive with age (r = 0.49) but significantly negative with level of education (r = -0.67), socioeconomic status (r = -0.61) and place of residence (r = -0.55). CONCLUSION: Oral hygiene is compromised in stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation and is largely influenced by old age, poor socioeconomic status, low level of education and poor residential status.

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