Oral health vulnerability and its associated risk factors among tribal elderly people in Bangladesh: a primary pilot initiative of national oral health survey

Background Tribal elderly is a vulnerable population due to their geographic location and lack of access to healthcare services including poor oral health. As the primary initiative for representative ethnic oral health survey for elderly, this pilot study aims to assess the oral health status of tribal elderly in Bangladesh and identify the associated risk factors. Methods This cross-sectional pilot survey was conducted among 280 tribal elderlies aged 60 years and above residing in the main tribal residing region in Bangladesh. The data was collected through cluster sampling methods using a semi-structured questionnaire and oral examination. Different statistical tools including frequency distribution, Chi-square association test and multivariable logistic regression model were performed in data analysis. Results The results showed that 25.35% of the tribal elderly had high DMFT score, indicating poor oral health. Respondents’ age, sex, marital status, occupational status, sweet eater, tobacco, and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with oral health. The major oral clinical sign and symptoms were dental carries, teeth sensitivity, loose teeth, broken teeth, calculus and staining in teeth, tongue pain and bad breath. The logistic regression analysis suggested that elderly aged 80 and above had 3.33 times more, males were 4.6 time less, tobacco user (smoked/smokeless) were 2.03 times more and alcohol consumers were 6.83 times more likely to experienced poor oral health condition than their counterparts. Conclusions Elderly individuals were found to be more likely to suffer from poor oral health condition than younger individuals, and certain lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, meal frequency, and sweet consumption can further increase the risk of poor oral health condition. The findings can be a primary initiative for further investigation on the nationally representative oral health survey among ethnic elderly.