Oral and general health behaviours among Chinese urban adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to measure the association of general and oral health-related behaviours with living conditions and to explore the interrelationships between general and oral health-related behaviours in Chinese urban adolescents.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 2662 adolescents was conducted in eight Chinese provincial capitals. The response rate was 92%. The study population was selected through multistage cluster sampling and comprised three age groups: 11, 13 and 15 years. Data on oral and general health, lifestyles as well as living conditions were collected by means of self-administered structured questionnaires. Several additive indices were constructed from answers to the questions on specific behaviour, and participants were categorized according to scores on each component of health-related behaviour for statistical analyses by frequency distributions, regression analyses and factor analyses.


RESULTS
Oral health-related behaviours among adolescents were associated with socioeconomic status of parents, school performance and peer relationships. The odds of a dental visit was 0.63 in adolescents of poorly educated parents and the corresponding figure for regular oral hygiene practices was 0.62. Odds of tobacco use was 3 for adolescents with poor performance in school while odds of consuming sugary foods/drinks was 1.3. Adolescents with high levels of preventive oral health practices also demonstrated general health-promoting behaviours. In factor analysis of general and oral health-related behaviours, three factors were isolated: (a) risk behaviours (loadings 0.48-0.66), (b) health-promoting behaviours (loadings 0.60-0.64) and (c) help-seeking behaviours (loadings 0.56-0.67).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings support a multidimensional model of health behaviour. Several approaches and multiple methods should be applied in oral health education in order to modify behaviours that affect oral health.
Petersen
Poul Erik
PE
Global Oral Health Programme, Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. petersenpe@who.int
Jiang
Han
H
Peng
Bin
B
Tai
Bao Jun
BJ
Bian
Zhuan
Z
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009909:Oral Health; D010379:Peer Group; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population