Year : 2015

Volume : Volume 5

Issue : Issue 2

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Sirisha Rao M
drsirimadiraju@yahoo.in

Abstract

Background:  To assess the prevalence of oral health beliefs & caries experience among bank employees of different socioeconomic classes in Guntur city, Andhra Pradesh. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 109 randomly selected bank employees, from various randomly selected banks in Guntur. A pretested questionnaire was designed to elicit their oral health beliefs and dental caries experience using DMFT index. Results:  The prevalence of caries was 58.71%. 100% of upper class participants had a negative belief on causation of caries and extraction. Chi-square & ANOVA tests were used to determine the association between the socio-economic status, caries experience and oral health beliefs.  Conclusion: The subjects had considerable belief in myths & false perceptions regarding oral health issues which differed accordingly with socioeconomic status.

Keywords: Oral health beliefs, Socio-economic status, bank employees.