IADR Abstract Archives
Where Do Malaysian Adults Usually Seek Oral Healthcare?
Objectives: To describe oral health care facility seeking pattern among Malaysian adults.
Methods: A two-stage stratified random household survey targeting 14,444 adults aged 15 years and above were conducted. Using a validated questionnaire, trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews. Sampling weights were calculated based on selection probability at state and strata using 2009 Census. Facility usually visited was compared by socio-demographic factors.
Results: More Malaysian adults sought public [56.1% (95% CI: 54.3–57.9)] than private [42.2% (95% CI: 40.4–44.0)] oral healthcare facilities. Public facilities were the choice of Malays [61.1% (95% CI: 58.8–63.2)], Kadazans [71.6% (95% CI: 63.7 - 78.4)], Ibans [73.2% (95% CI: 65.9 - 79.4)] and ‘other bumiputeras’ [75.3% (95% CI: 70.7–79.4)]; those in rural area [65.8% (95% CI: 63.3–68.2)] and adults with Level II education [56.5% (95% CI: 54.2–58.8)] and Level III education [58.9% (95% CI: 56.7–61.1)]. Most commonly cited reasons were reasonable fees [35.0 (95% CI: 33.2 - 37.0)] and ‘it was part of school health programme’ [25.1 (95%CI: 23.3 – 26.9)]. On the other hands, a higher proportion of Chinese visited private facilities [64.9% (95% CI: 61.7– 68.0)] and most common reasons for visiting the private were ‘short waiting time’ [44.1% (95% CI: 42.0–46.3)], ‘reasonable fees’ [35.0% (95% CI: 33.2–37.0)] and ‘convenient hours’ [12.9% (95% CI: 11.5– 14.3)].
Conclusions: More Malaysian adults especially from the rural and those with lower Education Levels and Malays and Bumiputeras usually visited public facilities due to reasonable fee and ‘it was part of school health programme’. Those who usually visited the private facilities cited ‘short waiting time, reasonable fees and convenient hours’ as reasons. A higher proportion of Chinese preferred private clinics.
Methods: A two-stage stratified random household survey targeting 14,444 adults aged 15 years and above were conducted. Using a validated questionnaire, trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews. Sampling weights were calculated based on selection probability at state and strata using 2009 Census. Facility usually visited was compared by socio-demographic factors.
Results: More Malaysian adults sought public [56.1% (95% CI: 54.3–57.9)] than private [42.2% (95% CI: 40.4–44.0)] oral healthcare facilities. Public facilities were the choice of Malays [61.1% (95% CI: 58.8–63.2)], Kadazans [71.6% (95% CI: 63.7 - 78.4)], Ibans [73.2% (95% CI: 65.9 - 79.4)] and ‘other bumiputeras’ [75.3% (95% CI: 70.7–79.4)]; those in rural area [65.8% (95% CI: 63.3–68.2)] and adults with Level II education [56.5% (95% CI: 54.2–58.8)] and Level III education [58.9% (95% CI: 56.7–61.1)]. Most commonly cited reasons were reasonable fees [35.0 (95% CI: 33.2 - 37.0)] and ‘it was part of school health programme’ [25.1 (95%CI: 23.3 – 26.9)]. On the other hands, a higher proportion of Chinese visited private facilities [64.9% (95% CI: 61.7– 68.0)] and most common reasons for visiting the private were ‘short waiting time’ [44.1% (95% CI: 42.0–46.3)], ‘reasonable fees’ [35.0% (95% CI: 33.2–37.0)] and ‘convenient hours’ [12.9% (95% CI: 11.5– 14.3)].
Conclusions: More Malaysian adults especially from the rural and those with lower Education Levels and Malays and Bumiputeras usually visited public facilities due to reasonable fee and ‘it was part of school health programme’. Those who usually visited the private facilities cited ‘short waiting time, reasonable fees and convenient hours’ as reasons. A higher proportion of Chinese preferred private clinics.