Background:Visually impaired people encounter numerous challenges in their daily life which makes it a cumbersome task to pay special attention to oral health needs. Furthermore, there is little knowledge about oral health practices among caretakers and visually impaired individuals, due to which oral health is often neglected when compared to the general health. Hence, there was a need to educate visually challenged individuals about oral hygiene practices in a customized format so that the comprehension of brushing techniques could be conveyed at its best.Materials and Methods:The present study was a randomized control trial of sixty visually impaired adolescents who were divided into three groups of 20 each. In Group 1, Braille was used, whereas in Group 2, audio-tactile performance (ATP) technique and in Group 3, a combination of both the methods were used to teach tooth brushing as a part of oral health education. Pre- and post-plaque index score using Silness and Loe (1967) after health education were calculated and tabulated for statistical analysis.Results:The postintervention mean plaque index score increased in Group 1 from 29.45 to 42.98, whereas the mean plaque score decreased in Groups 2 and 3 from 30.83–29.9 to 30.23–18.73, respectively. Intergroup comparison of postplaque index score using Kruskal–Wallis and ANOVA analysis showed significant difference among all three study groups.Conclusion:The combination of Braille and ATP technique of health education served as the most effective medium to teach oral hygiene methods to visually impaired adolescents.
Context:Facial measurements serve as a valuable tool in the treatment planning of maxillofacial rehabilitation, orthodontic treatment, and orthognathic surgeries. The esthetic guidelines of face are still based on neoclassical canons, which were used in the ancient art. These canons are considered to be highly subjective, and there is ample evidence in the literature, which raises such questions as whether or not these canons can be applied for the modern population.Aims:This study was carried out to analyze the facial features of Indian and Malaysian women by using three-dimensional (3D) scanner and thus determine the prevalence of neoclassical facial esthetic canons in both the groups.Subjects and Methods:The study was carried out on 60 women in the age range of 18–25 years, out of whom 30 were Indian and 30 Malaysian. As many as 16 facial measurements were taken by using a noncontact 3D scanner.Statistical Analysis Used:Unpaired t-test was used for comparison of facial measurements between Indian and Malaysian females. Two-tailed Fisher exact test was used to determine the prevalence of neoclassical canons.Results:Orbital Canon was prevalent in 80% of Malaysian women; the same was found only in 16% of Indian women (P = 0.00013). About 43% of Malaysian women exhibited orbitonasal canon (P = 0.0470) whereas nasoaural canon was prevalent in 73% of Malaysian and 33% of Indian women (P = 0.0068).Conclusions:Orbital, orbitonasal, and nasoaural canon were more prevalent in Malaysian women. Facial profile canon, nasooral, and nasofacial canons were not seen in either group. Though some canons provide guidelines in esthetic analyses of face, complete reliance on these canons is not justifiable.
INTRODUCTION:Tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. Tobacco use is a significant public health problem worldwide and the single-most preventable risk of human health. Mass media anti-tobacco advertisements can reach large sections of the society and increase awareness about the harms of tobacco use and increase quit attempts.METHODOLOGY:This cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the awareness of anti-tobacco advertisements and to assess the influence of anti-tobacco advertisements among 16 to 18-year-old students in Belgaum city. A self-structured, close-ended, 26-item questionnaire was distributed to 600 preuniversity students. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic data, tobacco usage status, questions related to awareness about anti-tobacco advertisements, and influence of anti-tobacco advertisements on attitude toward tobacco use. Frequency distributions and percentages were examined for each item and Chi-square test was used.RESULTS:Majority of the study participants (89.4% males and 86.7% females) were aware of the anti-tobacco advertisements. Television and movie theaters were considered as the most effective means for anti-tobacco advertisements. Nearly 90.8% had noticed the statutory warning which is shown during tobacco products’ usage on television/movies. Almost 78.35% of males and 90.6% of females had a positive change in attitude toward tobacco use due to influence of anti-tobacco advertisements.CONCLUSION:There is an increased awareness on anti-tobacco and this has been proved to be effective in motivating them to quit tobacco as well as stop them from initiating tobacco use.
Objectives:To access knowledge and practices related to the oral health of geriatrics among the health care providers practicing in urban and rural areas.Background:Older adults have identified a number of barriers that contribute to lack of dental service use. However, barriers that clinicians encounter in providing dental treatment to older adults are not as clear-cut.Materials and Methods:236 health professionals (of allopathy, ayurveda, and homeopathy) from urban and rural areas were assessed by means of structured questionnaire related to oral health practices and beliefs.Results:Doctors practicing in urban areas assessed dental care needs more frequently (P = 0.038) and performed greater practices related to oral health of geriatrics (P = 0.043) than the doctors practicing in primary health care (PHC) centers (rural) (P = 0.038).Conclusion:Owing to the relative lack of knowledge among rural practitioners, there is a need to integrate primary health care with oral care in rural areas.
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