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Reasons for seeking dental care in a Malaysian urban adult population: an analysis by sex and ethnic group
Author(s) -
Jaafar Nasruddin,
Razak Ishak Abdul
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1988.tb01847.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ethnic group , population , dental care , dentistry , family medicine , traditional medicine , demography , environmental health , anthropology , sociology
– Different groups of people will view and use modern dental services differently. This is determined by their traditional beliefs and cultural background. The aim of this study is to identify variations in utilization among adults in the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia. Dental records of 500 adults attending the University dental center were randomly selected and analyzed by sex and ethnic group. Results from this pilot study clearly indicate that different ethnic groups tend to use certain types of services more than others. Similarly, there is evidence of variation in the type of dental service preferred between males and females. The implications of these findings For dental health educators, program planners and further research is emphasized in order to promote a more positive pattern of utilization among the various ethnic groups.