Warning: file_get_contents(https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=41346752
&cmd=llinks): Failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 429 Too Many Requests
in C:\Inetpub\vhosts\kidney.de\httpdocs\pget.php on line 215
Associations between adolescents oral health and health literacy, gender and
family affluence: perspective of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
study data from Slovakia and Poland
#MMPMID41346752
Gli?ska KK
; Kizek P
; Madarasova Geckova A
; Boberova Z
; Dzielska A
; Kleszczewska D
; Sigmund E
; Jurkova V
; Kopcakova J
Front Public Health
2025[]; 13
(?): 1603356
PMID41346752
show ga
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the association between oral
health and health literacy, gender, age, family affluence and country of origin
amongst adolescents from Slovakia and Poland, using data from the Health
Behaviour in School-aged Children study. METHODS: We analysed data from the
cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study conducted in 2022
on a representative sample of 6,289 Slovak and Polish 13- and 15-year old
adolescents (mean age 14.48; SD?=?1.01; 50.5% boys). Data was collected through
self-administered online questionnaires completed by respondents in schools
during classes. Binomial logistic regression models were used to assess
associations between oral health and health literacy, gender, age, family
affluence and country of origin amongst adolescents from Slovakia and Poland.
RESULTS: The results indicate that boys (odds ratio/95% confidence interval
OR/95% CI 0.431/0.381-0.489) are substantially less likely to engage in regular
toothbrushing compared to girls, highlighting a persistent gender disparity in
oral hygiene behaviour. Additionally, lower socioeconomic status, as measured by
family affluence, is associated with a decreased likelihood of frequent
toothbrushing (OR/95% CI 0.486/0.399-0.592 for low family affluence; OR/95% CI
0.761/0.647-0.895 for medium family affluence). Similarly, health literacy
emerges as a key determinant, with adolescents exhibiting lower health literacy
levels demonstrating significantly reduced engagement in regular toothbrushing
(OR/95% CI 0.475/0.384-0.587 for low health literacy; OR/95% CI 0.666/0.550-0.808
for medium health literacy). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the significant
impact of gender, family affluence and health literacy on toothbrushing frequency
amongst adolescents in Poland and Slovakia. The findings underscore the need for
targeted oral health promotion strategies that consider gender differences,
socioeconomic inequalities and the importance of health literacy in improving
oral hygiene practises amongst adolescents.
|*Adolescent Behavior
[MESH]
|*Health Behavior
[MESH]
|*Health Literacy/statistics & numerical data
[MESH]
free
free
free
