title: Oral health status of fishermen and non-fishermen community of Kutch district, Gujarat, India: a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fishing is one such hazardous occupation, which involves irregular diet, stress, alcoholism, tobacco and pernicious habits. Fishermen have lower socio-economic status and their illiteracy adds to their poor oral hygiene, which may influence general and oral health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess and compare the oral health status of fishermen and non-fishermen population of Kutch District, Gujarat, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess and compare the oral health status of the fishermen and non-fishermen community of Mundra taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat, India, from January 2013 to June 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fishermen had significantly higher periodontal disease and dental caries than non-fishermen group (p = 0.001). Malocclusion was significantly higher in non-fishermen group (p = 0.001). Extraction was the most prevalent treatment need among both groups. Occupation and educational status were respectively identified as the best predictors for dental caries and periodontal disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of the present study suggest that oral health status of the fishermen population was relatively poor, with high caries prevalence and poor periodontal health when compared to the non-fishermen population. In the light of high treatment needs of the study population, health policy that emphasises oral health promotion and prevention would seem more advantageous in addition to traditional curative care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Debari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. kailashasawaudr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kailash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asawa
authors.forename: Piyush
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pujara
authors.forename: Mridula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagarajappa
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aapaliya
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhanushali
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005398:Fisheries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult