Dental health behaviors among homemakers and the association with socioeconomic status: A study from Delhi, India

Background: Women who are homemakers represent a vulnerable group regarding dental health, given the traditionally low importance placed on their health and preventive behavior, especially in the developing countries. Objective: To study the dental health-related behaviors among the homemakers in a region of Delhi, India, and its association with socioeconomic status (SES). Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study done in four selected residential colonies in a region of Delhi. Seven hundred and fifty-four homemakers residing in the colonies participated in the study. Results: Of the women, only 45.5% brushed their teeth twice daily while just 5.2% flossed their teeth at least once a day as recommended. The large majority (92.2%) never visited a dentist for preventive checkup. The most common reason cited for never having visited was "will go to a dentist only if some dental problem" (87.4%). Only 1.2% women were undertaking all the three major preventive health behaviors (brushing, flossing, and dental checkup). A significant direct association was observed between SES and the adoption of positive dental behaviors. Conclusion: The current study found specific lacunae in the behaviors related to dental health among the homemakers and an association with low SES. Dentistry practitioners and primary care managers need to be cognizant of the importance of promoting positive dental health behaviors in this sizeable constituency of homemakers, especially those who are socioeconomically deprived