Assessment of oral health knowledge and challenges in oral hygiene practices among homeless adults in Jalan Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

In Malaysia, the homeless population is increasing due to structural and individual factors. Their living environment may expose them to various health problems, including poor oral health status. Currently, studies focusing on the oral health of the homeless population in Malaysia are limited. This study aims to assess oral health knowledge and the challenges in oral health practices among homeless adults in Jalan Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 69 adults living in Jalan Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. A questionnaire was distributed to the participants to evaluate their oral health knowledge, practices and challenges in oral hygiene care. Only 26.1% (n = 18) of the participants were able to answer the question on the causes of gum disease. There is no association in gender and education level on oral health knowledge of the participants. However, most of the participants brush their teeth at least once daily (92.7%, n = 64). There were still some participants (11.6%, n = 8) had to share toothbrush with significant association between gender and sharing of toothbrush. There is no association in education level on oral hygiene practice of the participants. Most of the participants (82.7%, n = 57) denied having any challenge in performing their routine oral hygiene care. Financial problem was identified to be the main barrier in seeking dental treatment (29.6%, n = 13). In conclusion, the homeless adults in Jalan Chow Kit had acceptable oral health knowledge with particularly low knowledge on gum disease. Nevertheless, good oral hygiene practices were reported.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• oral health
• knowledge
• practice

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia for research opportunity and the Dentistry for The Needy (DFTN) members in helping during the conduct of the research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nor Haliza Mat-Baharin

Nor Haliza Mat Baharin graduated in dentistry from the School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2005. She served as a dental officer for three years at the Ministry of Health in Malaysia. She has a keen interest in education and teaching. Hence, she joined Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in 2010 as a trainee lecturer. She completed the specialist training in Periodontology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2014. Currently, she is a specialist and lecturer in Periodontology at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, where she engaged in research, clinical practice and undergraduate teaching. She is also the head of Periodontology and Community Oral Health Department. Her research areas mainly include biomaterials, clinical periodontology and dental education. Other than that, she has also involved in local and international dental volunteerism since her undergraduate years. Then, she focused on the oral health status of the homeless and refugees during dental volunteerism work.

Nor Azura Ahmad-Tarmidzi

Nor Azura Ahmad Tarmidzi graduated from the School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and included in the Dean’s List for final professional examination. After working in the Ministry of Health for 3 years, she pursued a post-graduate study at the University of Malaya to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Currently, she is the head of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Pathology and Medicine, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. Her true passion lies in education, clinical work and research, and she focuses on the treatment of the medically compromised dental patient and volunteerism. Moreover, she is a dedicated volunteer in the dental community service. She is one of the founders of Dentistry for The Needy (DFTN) in 2016, which is a non-governmental organization focusing on providing free dental service to the needy. DFTN has received a Golden Star Heart award for the volunteer works completed in 2018. She is very active in organizing and volunteering in dental programs for the homeless, refugees and orphanages. She has been invited as a speaker to share her experience in dental volunteerism. In addition to local community services, she started participating in an international volunteering program in Cambodia.

Erma Fazira Muhammad

Erma Fazira Muhammad received a Bachelor in Dental Surgery from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in 2018. She was an active student during her undergraduate years. One of the non-academic activities that she participated in was the community service project, which provides dental healthcare services and dental education, particularly for homeless people and refugees at Kuala Lumpur. She is a member of various charitable non-government organization and associations. Her experience from volunteer works led her to conduct research on the oral health status and practices of homeless adults in Kuala Lumpur. She also has experience working in a private dental clinic before she enrolled in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. She currently works as a general dentist at a government clinic, but she still actively volunteers in her workplace. She is also very ambitious and hopes to further her study in post-graduate soon.

Nurul Najwa Md-Yusuf

Nurul Najwa Md Yusof received her bachelor’s degree in dental surgery from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. She is one of the young and enthusiast new dental officers appointed by the Malaysian government to accommodate the Sabahan people in Lahad Datu. Despite having minimum working experience, she is full of passion. She likes to communicate with the public, specifically with the less fortunate ones as they are considered one of the most prone to dental ailments. She is one of those who always voluntarily participate in and even conduct community programs and medical camps organized by the clinic. She did additional work by joining one of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and becoming a team member of Dentistry for the Needy (DFTN) Sabah. She realized all these values in her training during her undergraduate years, where graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry, USIM, are aspired to exhibit the values of balanced professionals in providing oral health care.