Periodontal Status and Potential Risk Factors in the Myanmar Population: Data from the First National Oral Health Survey in 2016–2017

Abstract

Abstract Periodontal disease is quite common in many developing countries, but no nationally representative data on periodontal disease is available in Myanmar until 2016. A nationwide cross-sectional survey with a stratified two-stage sampling method was conducted among 4668 participants aged 12–74 years. Periodontal assessments and self-administered questionnaire surveys were conducted to assess the periodontal status and risk factors in the Myanmar population using data from the first national oral health survey in 2016–2017. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed to assess the prevalence of periodontitis and its association with potential risk factors. The prevalence of gingivitis was 38.2%, 41.5%, 44.4%, and 43.7% in 12, 15–18, 35–44, and 60–74 year-olds, respectively. The prevalence of periodontitis in the latter three age groups was 2.3%, 16.3%, and 35.2%, respectively. After adjusting for other risk factors, younger participants aged 15–18 years (odds ratio [OR]: 0.1, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.0–0.2) and aged 35–44 years (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3–0.5) were less likely to have periodontitis. Moreover, participants educated upto junior high school level (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.7), primary school and below level (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2–3.2), everyday smokers (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.3–2.0), and everyday tobacco chewers (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2–1.8) were associated with increased risk of periodontitis. Periodontal complications were prevalent in Myanmar older adults. Prevention efforts should focus on tobacco control and oral hygiene.