Association Between Water, Sanitation, General Hygiene And Oral Hygiene Practices Of Street-Involved Young People In Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background Oral hygiene practices can be linked to personal hygiene practices, including access to water and other sanitation facilities. The objective of the study was to determine if there is an association between oral hygiene practices and water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) practices among street-involved young people (SIYP).Methods A cross-sectional study involving SIYP age 10-24 years in two states in Nigeria recruited through respondent-driven sampling was conducted. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on water access, sanitation personal and oral hygiene. The instruments used for collecting the data were standardized tools for measuring the phenomena studied. The association between knowledge and practice of oral hygiene; oral hygiene and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and indicators of good oral hygiene were assessed.Results We found that the proportion of SIYP with good knowledge of oral hygiene was high (84.9%), but fewer had good oral hygiene practice (8.9%). There were significant associations between knowledge and practice of tooth cleaning, use of fluoride-containing toothpaste, dental flossing, consumption of sugar between meals, and frequency of dental check-ups (p<0.001 respectively). Respondents with good water collection and storage (AOR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.31-4.38; P=0.004) and those residing in Lagos (AOR: 2.61; 95% CI: 1.42-4.80; P=0.002) had higher likelihood of having good oral hygiene.Conclusion Good oral hygiene practices of SIYP in Nigeria is associated with access to water collection and storage. WASH programs can have impact on health through improved oral hygiene practices.