Determinants of Oral Diseases in the African and Middle East Region

Abstract

Oral health policies must be developed that emphasize the role of social determinants in health and oral diseases. The aim of this report is to review literature on determinants of oral diseases and apply the concepts to promoting oral health in the African countries in the African and Middle East region (AMER). Structural and proximal determinants of oral diseases are common to those affected by other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Oral diseases are also heavily affected by issues of politics, poor health behaviors, underdeveloped health systems, and low oral health literacy. Wide-scale poverty exists in populations in the AMER. Oral health promotion and preventive oral health programs should therefore be integrated with those for general health and use the common risk factor approach (CRFA). Attempts should be made to improve the daily living conditions and reduce the incline of the social gradient. Oral health practitioners should use the CRFA when dealing with determinants of oral diseases and in the design of preventive oral health programs. The detrimental effects of the social determinants of health may be ameliorated by involving both the individual and community. Interventions in health promotion programs in the AMER need more research on the epidemiology of oral diseases and the role played by the social determinants of oral diseases, especially with regard to poverty. The high levels of poverty and low gross domestic product in most countries in the African region make it difficult to fund high-quality, affordable, accessible oral health services.

Dental caries experience in adults: a cross-sectional community survey within Ethiopia

“…Sociodemographic factors included in the baseline surgical questionnaire instrument as important independent variables for subsequent analysis were as follows: age, sex, education status, religious a liation, marital status and location (urban/rural) as these variables are common predictors of caries (34,35). In relation to lifestyle and behavioural factors, frequency of tooth cleaning and materials used, including toothpaste were collected in the dental data collection instrument and used as proxies for oral hygiene/plaque removal and uoride exposure (36,37). Other health behavioural and lifestyle factors examined because of their in uence on oral health were: Khat chewing, sugar, tobacco and alcohol consumption (9, 38).…”

Capacity Building and Financing Oral Health in the African and Middle East Region

“…There is a large variation in the number of studies that highlighted social inequality in oral health in the AMER countries (Table 5), as reported also in another article of this supplement (Chidzonga et al 2015). There were very few articles about the other themes of capacity building.…”

Addressing Oral Health Inequalities in the Africa and Middle East Region

“…Most important, governments should strive to reduce poverty levels within their countries as a determining factor of oral disease (Chidzonga et al 2015).…”

“…fied common risk factor approach suggested by Chidzonga et al (2015), access to societal resources such as a good standard of living (including a reduction in poverty), social institutions, political and economic structures, and the built environment are the key avenues to health. They enable positive behaviors and make healthy choices easier.…”