Knowledge and Practices on Periodontal Health among Adults, Misungwi, Tanzania

Table 1

Frequency distribution of the study participants’ oral health knowledge and oral health practices on periodontal health by sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables ().

	Number ()	Percentage (%)
Sociodemographic variables
Sex
Male	197	50.8
Female	191	49.2
Age group
18–34	215	55.4
35+	173	44.6
Level of education
Not gone to school	37	9.6
Seven years of education	257	66.2
More than seven years of education	94	24.2
Socioeconomic variables
Owning a cell phone
Yes	289	74.5
No	99	25.5
Owning a radio
Yes	298	76.8
No	90	23.2
House having electricity
Yes	45	11.6
No	343	88.4
Oral health knowledge
Can they mention types of oral diseases?
Yes	190	49.0
No	198	51.0
Can they mention signs and symptoms of periodontal diseases?
Yes	266	68.6
No	122	31.4
Can they mention causes of gum diseases?
Yes	103	26.5
No	285	73.5
Can they mention effects of gum diseases?
Yes	124	32.0
No	264	68.0
Can they mention prevention of gum of diseases?
Yes	115	29.6
No	273	70.4
Awareness on harmful effects of smoking on gums
Yes	129	33.2
No	259	66.8
Oral health practice
Use of toothpaste during teeth brushing
Yes	321	82.7
No	67	17.3
Time spent during tooth brushing
Less than two minutes	52	13.4
Two minutes or more	336	86.6
Frequency of tooth brushing
Less than twice a day	208	53.6
Twice or more a day	180	46.4
Ever attended dental health facility?
Yes	154	39.7
No	234	60.3
Do you smoke?
Yes	59	15.2
No	329	84.8