Oral health behaviour of children and adults in urban and rural areas of Burkina Faso, Africa.

OBJECTIVES To assess the level of dental knowledge and attitudes among 12 year-old children and 35-44 year-olds in Burkina Faso; to evaluate the pattern of oral health behaviour among these cohorts in relation to location, gender and social characteristics and; to evaluate the relative effect of social-behavioural risk factors on caries experience. DESIGN Across sectional study including urban and rural subgroups of population. SAMPLE AND METHODS Multistage cluster sampling of households in urban areas; in rural areas random samples of participants were based on the recent population census. The final study population covered two age groups: 12 years (n = 505) and 35-44 years (n = 493). RESULTS For both children and adults, levels of oral health knowledge, attitudes and self-care were low; 36% of 12-year-olds and 57% of 35-44-year-olds carried out toothcleaning on a daily basis. Pain and discomfort from teeth were common while dental visits were infrequent. Tooth cleaning was mostly performed by use of chewsticks. Use of toothpaste was rare, particularly fluoridated toothpaste was seldom; 9% of 12-year-olds and 18% of 35-44-year-olds reported use of fluoride toothpaste. Significant differences were found in oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices according to location and gender. At age 12, important factors of high caries experience were location (urban), and consumption of soft drinks and fresh fruits. In 35-44-year-olds, gender (female), high education level, dental visit and occupation (government employee) were the significant factors of high dental caries experience whereas adults using traditional chewing sticks had lower DMFT. CONCLUSIONS Health authorities should strengthen the implementation of oral disease prevention and health promotion programmes rather than traditional curative care. Community-oriented essential care and affordable fluoride toothpaste should be encouraged.