title: "Education level" responsible for inequities in oral practices among 15-34-year-old individuals in Jizan, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Education plays an important role and is a second major (non-medical dimensional) factor influencing the health status. Individuals demonstrate oral practices that impact the oral health positively or negatively. This study analyzes how self-reported oral practices are influenced by different educational levels among young adults in Jizan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was conducted in four areas around University of Jizan. The survey subjects, aged between 15 and 34 years, completed the self-administered, structured questionnaire. Inter-group comparison was done using Chi-square test. Level of significance was fixed at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exactly 1597 subjects completed the survey. Of these, 644 (40.3%) had attained higher education, 884 (55.4%) had lower education, and 69 (4.3%) were illiterate. Statistical comparisons showed significant differences among the three groups with respect to the use of toothbrushes (χ(2) = 88.67, P < 0.001), use of interdental cleaning aids (χ(2) = 15.04, P < 0.001), siwak use (χ(2) = 16.31, P < 0.001), cigarette smoking (χ(2) = 14.28, P < 0.001), and khat chewing (χ(2) = 38.1, P < 0.001). Siwak use was more among those with low educational level and illiterates. Further, smoking and khat chewing were significantly more prevalent among illiterates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The subjects with low education and the illiterates exercise harmful oral practices. This study indicates that educational level is responsible for inequities in oral practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Syed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Peeran
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Implantology, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya.
authors.forename: Syed Wali
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Peeran
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fuad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al Sanabani
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bandar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Almakramani
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Elfatih Ibrahim
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Elham
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Puvvadi G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Naveen Kumar
keywords: Education; Jizan; education level; oral hygiene; oral hygiene practices; self-reported; toothbrush; young adults