Comparison of Periodontal Status between Koraga Tribes and Malavettuvan Tribes in Kasargod District of Kerala: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The lack of a healthcare system is one of the serious problems among the Koragas. The Koraga tribal community in the Kasargod district has a community health center in the area, but it lacks advanced medical and dental facilities, making it difficult for them to seek treatment in the few private hospitals in the area due to their economic backwardness. The Malavettuvan tribes are distributed only in the ghat areas of the Kasaragod District of Kerala. Their major occupation is agriculture, and they are educationally, economically, and socially backward. Aim: To compare the periodontal status of the Koraga and Malavettuvan tribes of the Kasargod district. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 304 participants from both Koraga and Malavettuvan tribes aged 35-55 years. Clinical parameters such as the oral hygiene index, Community Periodontal Index (CPI), and loss of attachment were measured. A questionnaire was used to assess the oral hygiene habits, lifestyle, and other habits of the populations. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: The results of the present study showed a significant difference in the oral hygiene index (Median OHI of Koraga-0.40, Malavettuvan-1.20 respectively, p-value <0.001) and CPI (Median CPI of Koraga-0.60, Malavettuvan-1.50, respectively, p-value <0.001) between both groups, while there was no difference in the loss of attachment (p-value-0.991). The majority of the Koragas and Malavettuvans used toothbrush and toothpaste as cleaning aids (70.06% and 78.28%, respectively). Smokeless tobacco was prevalent among Koragas compared to Malavettuvans (36.18% and 29.60%, respectively), while cigarette smoking was more common among Malavettuvans (50.98% and 42.10% for Koragas and Malavettuvans, respectively). Conclusion: Even though the Koragas and Malavettuvans do not routinely seek dental care and have a primitive lifestyle with less formal education, a lower level of periodontal disease was observed among both groups. There is a need to promote more healthcare programs that emphasise oral health among these populations.