title: Socio-behavioral determinants of oral hygiene practices among USA ethnic and age groups.
abstract: In this study, socio-behavioral determinants of oral hygiene practices were examined across several dentate ethnic and age groups. Oral hygiene scale scores were constructed from toothbrushing and dental floss frequencies self-reported by population-based samples of middle-aged (35-44 years) and older (65-74 years) dentate adults representing Baltimore African-American and White, San Antonio Hispanic and non-Hispanic White, and Navajo and Lakota Native American persons participating in the WHO International Collaborative Study of Oral Health Outcomes (ICS-II) survey. Female gender, education, certain oral health beliefs, household income, and the presence of a usual source of care were revealed with multivariate analysis to show a significant positive relationship with higher oral hygiene scale scores (indicating better personal oral hygiene practices). Other socio-behavioral variables exhibited a more varied, ethnic-specific pattern of association with oral hygiene scale scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Rams
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D015142:Baltimore; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000523:psychology; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013023:South Dakota; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D016549:United States Indian Health Service; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data