The parents of all students who were invited to join the study consented to their participation and the students assented (n= 521, response rate = 100%). Table 1 showed that most participants were female (n = 290; 55.7%) with mean age= 13.4±1 year old. The age of the respondents ranged from 11-17 years old. Most parents were non-university educated (father= 65.3% and mother= 67.4%), with half mothers being housewives (49.1%). Most participants brushed twice daily (81.4%), did not regularly visit the dentist (88.3%) and had no dental pain in the last 6 months (77.9%). The overall average time that they spend using the internet per day is 3.2±1.9 hours per day.
Table 1: Personal profile, toothbrushing, dental visits and dental pain among students participating in the study
Variables
|
n (%)
|
Gender
Male
Female
|
231 (44.3)
290 (55.7)
|
Father’s Education
University educated
Non-university educated
|
181 (34.7)
340 (65.3)
|
Mother’s Education
University educated
Non-university educated
|
170 (32.6)
351 (67.4)
|
Housewife mother
Yes
No
|
256 (49.1)
265 (50.9)
|
Brushes twice daily
Yes
No
|
424 (81.4)
97 (18.6)
|
Regular visit to the dentist
Yes
No
|
61 (11.7)
460 (88.3)
|
Had dental pain in the last 6 months
Yes
No
|
115 (22.1)
406 (77.9)
|
The results show that 40.7% used Google to search for OHI, 16.9% used SM and 36.1% used both Google and SM with a total of 93.7% using some internet platform to search for OHI. Participants using SM used YouTube (40.7%), Instagram (24%), Facebook (5%) and Twitter (1.7%). About 49.3% reported searching for OHI about treatment, 47.6% about prevention, 43.4% about causes and 14.6% about symptoms of ODs.
Table 2 shows that various factors were differently associated with using Google, SM or both compared to not using the internet at all to obtain OHI. Brushing twice daily was associated with significantly greater likelihood of using SM (OR= 4.12, 95%CI= 1.43, 11.89) and both Google and SM (OR= 2.70, 95%CI= 1.03, 7.08) but was not significantly associated with using Google alone (OR= 2.10, 95%CI= 0.84, 5.24). Regular dental visits were associated with significantly lower likelihood of using SM (OR= 0.16, 95%CI= 0.05, 0.60) but had no significant association with using Google alone (OR= 0.42, 95%CI= 0.15, 1.17) or using both Google and SM (OR= 0.42, 95%CI= 0.14, 1.23). Exclusive users of Google and SM alone were significantly more likely than those who did not use the internet for OHI to be looking for information about ODs causes (OR= 3.69, 95%CI= 1.33, 10.26 and 3.49, 95%CI= 1.18, 10.26) and treatment (OR= 6.17, 95%CI= 2.23, 17.03 and OR= 5.13, 95%CI= 1.75, 15.01) while users of both Google and SM together were significantly more likely than non-users of the internet to be looking for OHI about symptoms (OR= 6.07, 95%CI= 1.24, 29.87) and prevention (OR= 4.82, 95%CI= 1.95, 11.89) in addition to causes (OR= 6.98, 95%CI= 2.46, 19.79) and treatment (OR= 9.86, 95%CI= 3.46, 28.06).
Table 2: Factors associated with using Google, SM, and Google and SM combined for OHI versus not using the internet for OHI by adolescents in Jakarta, Indonesia
|
OR (95%CI)
|
Google
|
SM
|
Google and SM combined
|
Brushes twice daily
|
2.10 (0.84, 5.24)
|
4.12 (1.43, 11.89)*
|
2.70 (1.03, 7.08)*
|
Visiting the dentist regularly
|
0.42 (0.15, 1.17)
|
0.16 (0.05, 0.60)*
|
0.42 (0.14, 1.23)
|
Had dental pain in the last 6 months
|
0.92 (0.36, 2.33)
|
1.36 (0.50, 3.69)
|
1.12 (0.43, 2.96)
|
Searching for ODs causes
|
3.69 (1.33, 10.26)*
|
3.49 (1.18, 10.26)*
|
6.98 (2.46, 19.79)*
|
Searching for ODs symptoms
|
2.26 (0.46, 11.06)
|
1.58 (0.28, 8.88)
|
6.07 (1.24, 29.87)*
|
Searching for ODs treatment
|
6.17 (2.23, 17.03)*
|
5.13 (1.75, 15.01)*
|
9.86 (3.46, 28.06)*
|
Searching for ODs prevention
|
2.22 (0.93, 5.32)
|
1.66 (0.65, 4.25)
|
4.82 (1.95, 11.89)*
|
*: statistically significant at P< 0.05
Adjusted for region, gender, age, parents’ education and mother’s job