Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate self-rated oral health (SROH) in a national community survey among adults in Mongolia. The study analysed national data from the Mongolian cross-sectional STEPS survey in 2019 (N = 6,654, 15-69 years). The assessment included physical measures, biochemistry tests and SROH, oral conditions, oral health behaviour, and general health behaviour and status. The results showed that the prevalence of poor SROH was 11.3%, 10.3 among women and 12.3% among men. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, a lower number of teeth (AOR: 5.58, 95% CI: 4.29-7.27), pain in the teeth, gum or mouth (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.55-2.66), current smoking tobacco (AOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.20-2.05) and insufficient fruit/vegetable consumption (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.08-2.01) were positively associated with poor SROH. Higher education (≥12 years) (AOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.98), teeth cleaning (≥2 times/day) (AOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59-0.96), and the use of fluoride toothpaste (AOR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46-0.87) were protective against poor SROH. In addition, in unadjusted analysis, older age, male sex, dentures, recent dental visit, heavy episodic drinking, overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart attack or stroke were positively associated with poor SROH. More than one in ten adults in Mongolia had poor SROH and several associated factors were identified that can guide oral health promotion strategies in Mongolia.

Keywords: Health status, self-rated oral health, health behaviour, Mongolia