Oral Health Awareness and Self-Care Practice among Diabetic Patients Attending Diabetic Clinic of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ferehiwot Nigussie Workneh, Zuriyash Mengistu Assen, Ketema Bizuwork and Boka Dugassa Tolera

Background: Good oral health awareness and self-care practice play a vital role in the early diagnosis and management of diabetes-related complications including oral disease. However, the status of oral health awareness and self-care practice among diabetic patients has never been reported in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of oral health awareness, and self-care practices among diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study and systematic random sampling method were used to recruit diabetic patients in this study from March to May 2020. Collected data were entered, and edited, using Epi data version 3.1 statistical packages and analyzed using STATA version 14. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the level of oral health awareness and self- care practice among the study participants.

Results: The study found lesser number (39.25%) of the study participants know the relationship between diabetes and oral health. Further, our finding revealed that only (43.55) of the study participants knew their diagnosis (the type of DM). About 31.72% of the study participants had received information regarding oral health care. Further, the study found about 39.78 % of the participants clean their teeth once a day, and (40.13%) of them had a history of dental care visits within five years.

Conclusion: The study concludes level of oral health awareness and self-care practice among diabetic patients was low in the study area. Therefore, healthcare providers and stakeholders should invest efforts in improving the patient’s oral care awareness and self-care practice.

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