title: Gender issues and oral health in elderly Indians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gender disparity in health and diseases is increasingly being recognised. Therefore, it was decided to investigate gender differences in the elderly subjects (60+years) from a community-based study. The study was undertaken to evaluate the oral health status and treatment needs of urban and rural elderly and to study the impact of socio-demographic variables on them.
  
  
  METHODS
  An urban area in South Delhi and its adjoining four villages was selected. A modified WHO-Oral Health Survey proforma and Rup-Nagpal's scale were used to record oral health and socio-demographic data respectively. In addition, diet pattern (vegetarian/non-vegetarian) and body mass index (BMI) were also recorded. Chi square test and p values were calculated for each of the studied parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences for socio-economic status, literacy level, marital and family status between elderly men and women (p<0.0001). A higher percentage of elderly women were vegetarian and overweight than elderly men (p<0.01). However, there were few differences found in the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal diseases and edentulousness between male and female elderly (p>0.01). The only difference found was in the evidence of previous dental treatment received. Elderly men had a higher percentage of filled teeth and denture wear compared to elderly women (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's oral health is significantly influenced by social, economic and psychological factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. naseemys@hotmail.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health; D016387:Women's Health