The Role of an Individual’s Perception of their Partner’s Oral Health in Heterosexual Couples

Silva Junior, Manoelito Ferreira; Chandler, Claudia Lobelli; Baldani, Márcia Helena; Batista, Marília Jesus; Sousa, Maria da Luz Rosario de

doi:10.1590/pboci.2021.104

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Pesqui. Bras. Odontopediatria Clín. Integr. 21 • 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/pboci.2021.104 copy

The Role of an Individual’s Perception of their Partner’s Oral Health in Heterosexual Couples

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective:

To analyze the role of an individual’s perception of their partner’s oral health in heterosexual couples.

Material and Methods:

The exploratory study with a qualitative and quantitative approach and data were collected in households in 2015. The quantitative data were analyzed using simple and multivariate binary logistic regression (p<0.05), and the qualitative using Thematic Content Analysis.

Results:

Of 143 participants, 113 (79.0%) were in a relationship and made up the final sample of the present study. Both women and men reported a small percentage of discomfort in relation to their partners’ oral health (23.1% vs. 14.8%; p=0.199), and only a few had received complaints about their own oral health (20.7% vs. 10.7%; p=0.179). However, almost half of the sample had been told by their partner to see the dentist (47.6% vs. 31.0%; p=0.156), and of these, most were men (48.3% vs. 25.0%; p=0.022). The men that were more likely to be told by their partners to see the dentist (OR=5.82; 95% CI: 1.71-19.80) were upper-class (OR=3.35; 95% CI: 1.05-10.67), workers (OR=7.45; 95% CI: 1.62-34.20) who were dissatisfied with their oral health (OR=3.45; 95% CI: 1.13-10.51). The participants’ reasons for complaining of their partners’ oral health or for telling them to see the dentist were related to physiopathological clinical aspects and healthcare habits.

Conclusion:

The women told their male partners to seek dental services more often, and future studies should explore whether women are predictors of care and the validity of this information as an indicator of the oral health condition of their male partners.

Keywords:
Sex; Marriage; Oral Health; Prevalence; Epidemiology

Variables	N	%
Sex
Female	84	74.3
Male	29	25.7
Age^* *In 2011: Range 1 (20-44 years) and Range 2 (45-64 years); ]
Range 1	57	50.4
Range 2	56	49.6
Type of Relationship
Stable union	108	95.6
Other (dating + engaged)	05	4.4
Time in current relationship
≤ 10 years	25	22.1
≥ 11 years	88	77.9
Works^ The total is not 113 due to loss of data. ]
No	22	26.8
Yes	60	73.2
Social Class
Lower/Middle	62	52.9
Upper	51	45.1
Smokes
No	99	87.6
Yes	14	12.4
Is satisfied with his/her oral health
Yes	71	62.8
No	42	37.2
Is satisfied with the appearance of his/her teeth^ The total is not 113 due to loss of data. ]
Yes	72	64.3
No	40	35.7
Self-perceives his/her quality of life as good
Yes	95	84.1
No	18	15.9

Variables	N	%
Does the oral health of your partner bother you?^* *The total is not 113 due to loss of data. ]
Never	83	79.0
Rarely	07	6.7
Sometimes	07	6.7
Repeatedly	08	7.6
Always	00	0.0
Have you ever told your partner to see the dentist?
Never	64	56.6
Rarely	10	8.8
Sometimes	21	18.6
Repeatedly	03	2.7
Always	15	13.3
Does your partner complain of your oral health?
Never	98	86.7
Rarely	05	4.4
Sometimes	07	6.2
Repeatedly	00	0.0
Always	03	2.7
Has your partner ever told you to see the dentist?
Never	78	69.0
Rarely	09	8.0
Sometimes	15	13.3
Repeatedly	00	0.0
Always	11	9.7

Questions	Yes		No		Total		Crude OR	95%CI	p-value
Questions	N	%	N	%	N	%	Crude OR	95%CI	p-value
Does the oral health of your partner bother you?^* *The total is not 113 due to loss of data. ]
Female	18	23.1	60	76.9	78	100.0	0.58	0.25-1.34
Male	4	14.8	23	85.2	27	100.0	1.00	0.199
Have you ever told your partner to see the dentist?
Female	40	47.6	44	52.4	84	100.0	0.52	0.21-1.28	0.156
Male	9	31.0	20	69.0	29	100.0	1.00
Does your partner complain of your oral health?
Female	9	10.7	75	89.3	84	100.0	2.17	0.71-6.76	0.179
Male	6	20.7	23	79.3	29	100.0	1.00
Has your partner ever told you to see the dentist?
Female	20	25.0	63	75.0	84	100.0	2.80	1.16-6.75	0.022
Male	14	48.3	15	51.7	29	100.0	1.00

Variables	No		Yes		p-value	Crude OR	95%CI	p-value	Adjusted OR	95%CI	p-value
Variables	N	%	N	%	p-value	Crude OR	95%CI	p-value	Adjusted OR	95%CI	p-value
Sex
Female	63	75.0	21	25.0	0.019	1		0.022	1		0.005
Male	15	51.7	14	48.3		2.80	1.16-6.75		5.82	1.71-19.80
Age^* *In 2011: Range 1 (20-44 years) and Range 2 (45-64 years); ]
Range 1	41	71.9	16	28.1	0.501
Range 2	37	66.1	19	33.9
Type of Relationship
Stable Union	73	67.6	35	32.4	0.215
Other	5	100.0	0	0.0
Time in current relationship
≤ 10 years	20	80.0	5	20.0	0.179	1		0.185
≥ 11 years	58	65.9	30	34.1		2.07	0.71-6.06
Works^ The total is not 113 due to loss of data. ]
No	19	86.4	3	13.6	0.033	1		0.043	1		0.01
Yes	37	61.7	23	38.3		3.94	1.05-14.80		7.45	1.62-34.20
Social Class
Lower/Middle	39	62.9	23	37.1	0.121	1		0.123	1		0.041
Upper	39	76.5	12	23.5		1.92	0.84-4.38		3.35	1.05-10.67
Smokes
No	70	70.7	29	29.3	0.304
Yes	8	57.1	6	42.9
Is satisfied with his/her oral health
Yes	55	77.5	16	22.5	0.012	1		0.013	1		0.029
No	23	54.8	19	45.2		2.84	1.25-6.47		3.45	1.13-10.51
Is satisfied with the appearance of his/her own teeth^ The total is not 113 due to loss of data. ]
Yes	55	76.4	17	23.6	0.019	2.65	1.59-6.05	0.021
No	22	55.0	18	45.0		1
Self-perceives his/her quality of life as good
Yes	68	71.6	27	28.4	0.178	2.02	0.72-5.65	0.183
No	10	55.6	8	44.4		1

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[1] Correspondence: Manoelito Ferreira Silva Júnior, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Avenida General Carlos Cavalcanti, 4748, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil. 84030-900. E-mail: manoelito_fsjunior@hotmail.com.