Information from the abstract
BACKGROUND: Inmates are recognized as a vulnerable population with limited access to healthcare and generally poorer oral health than the wider community, warranting focused investigation. This study, conducted at Takuapa District Prison, Thailand, aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among inmates and to examine factors associated with dental service utilization. METHODS: A total of 535 inmates underwent oral examinations and completed questionnaires, and descriptive statistics were used for this entire sample. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis was performed only on the 418 inmates who also completed the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) index. RESULTS: Dental caries was present in 94.6% of inmates, with a mean DMFT score of 10.05 ± 7.23. Untreated caries affected 90.5% of participants (mean DT = 6.22 ± 5.50), while 58.9% presented with complications of untreated caries, with a mean PUFA score of 2.41 ± 3.61. Five inmates were edentulous, and among dentate inmates, 63.6% had periodontitis (CPI scores 3-4). Overall, 50.7% of inmates reported impaired OHRQoL, as assessed using the OIDP index, which was significantly associated with complications of untreated caries (PUFA). In addition, 48.6% of inmates reported access to dental services, which was also significantly associated with impaired OHRQoL. CONCLUSION: Inmates exhibit a high burden of untreated dental caries and periodontitis, which, along with limited healthcare access, significantly impairs their oral health-related quality of life. Implementing targeted oral health services and preventive programs within prisons is urgently needed to improve their well-being.
Why this record is monitored
This record has an Impact Signal of 72/100 based on recency, source, collaboration, and bibliographic signals. It prioritizes monitoring and is not a judgment of research quality.
Related topics: Dental Health and Care Utilization · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
Thai researcher and institutional participation
Manop Phongayukull · Narumanas Korwanich · Kanyarat Korwanich · Chiang Mai University
Data limitations
This page is a bibliographic record based on abstract-level information, not a full analysis or quality assessment. Verify the DOI and original article before citation.