Periodontal Disease Status and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Northwest Ethiopia

PURPOSE: Information on periodontal disease and its predictors in sub-Saharan Africa is sparse. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of periodontal disease and assess the relationship with associated factors in patients who attended the University of Gondar comprehensive hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 1, 2019, to March 10, 2020, at the University of Gondar comprehensive Hospital. Participants were recruited with a systematic random sampling technique, and interviewed for sociodemographic and medical information through a structured questionnaire. Two examiners evaluated the periodontal status of the study participants using the community periodontal index (CPI). RESULTS: Four hundred twenty participants were involved in the study. The mean age of the study participants was 29.87 (±7. 76). The majority of the study participants had a habit of tooth brushing (72.1%) and almost half of them did not have a fixed time to brush their teeth. Periodontal change (CPI>0) was noted in 42.4% of the participants and among that 21.7% had shallow pocket (pocket depth of 4–5 mm) and 5.95% had a deep periodontal pocket (≥6 mm). The prevalence was higher in 20–34 years (57.3%), females (58.98%), monthly income of <2500 ETB (82.02%), and frequent carbohydrate intakes (65.17%). Age (AOR=9.61, 95% CI: 6.42, 13.04), gender (AOR=2.00, 95% CI: 136, 2.97), educational status (AOR=3.25), residency (AOR= 1.66), monthly income (AOR=2.13), oral hygiene habit (AOR=4.85) and systemic disease (AOR=1.96) were significantly associated with periodontitis. CONCLUSION: In the present study, 42.4% of the study participants encountered periodontal disease. The study confirmed that various sociodemographic risk factors/indicators are associated with an increased risk of periodontitis.