title: Oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practices among eunuchs (hijras) residing in Bhopal City, Madhya Pradesh, India: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practices among eunuchs (hijras) residing in Bhopal city, Madhya Pradesh, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a convenient non-probability snow ball sampling technique, all the self-identified eunuchs residing in the city of Bhopal who were present at the time of study and who fulfilled the selection criteria were approached. A cross section of the general population was also surveyed. An interviewer-based, predesigned, structured, close-ended 18-item questionnaire that had been designed based on the primary objective of the study was used. All the obtained data were analyzed using software, Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to 188 (86.2%) males, 187 (87.4%) females and 168 (81.2%) eunuchs, good oral health can improve the general health. Most of the study participants including 211 (98.6%) females, 210 (96.3%) males and 205 (99%) eunuchs use either tooth paste or tooth powder to clean their teeth. While, a majority of eunuchs, i.e., 113 (54.6%), were having habit of chewing smokeless tobacco containing products such as betel nut, betel quid, gutkha, etc., The difference in use of tobacco products was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The information presented in this study adds to our understanding of the common oral hygiene practices which are performed among eunuch population. Efforts to increase the awareness of oral effects of tobacco use and to eliminate the habit are needed to improve oral and general health of this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, People's Dental Academy, People's University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hongal
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, People's Dental Academy, People's University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nilesh Arjun
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Torwane
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, People's Dental Academy, People's University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, People's Dental Academy, People's University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Chandrashekar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byarakele
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative and Endodontics, People's Dental Academy, People's University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Priyesh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, People's Dental Academy, People's University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Shubham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
keywords: Eunuchs; hijras; oral health; oral hygiene practices; periodontitis