Journal of Dental Research, Vol 80, 1453-1458, Copyright © 2001 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
An Oral Health Survey in Southern China, 1997: background and methodology
E. Schwarz, H. G. Zhang, Z. J. Wang, H. C. Lin, E. C. Lo, E. F. Corbet and M. C. Wong
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong.
Relatively limited information is available about the oral health in the
Guangdong Province of Southern China, the closest neighbor to Hong Kong.
The study intended to explore the oral health status, knowledge, attitudes,
and dental care utilization in the Guangdong population as a basis for
formulating strategies for oral health prevention and treatment. Through
multi-stage stratified and quota-sampling, individuals from urban as well
as rural communities were selected (5- to 6-; 12-; 35- to 44-; and 65- to
74-year-olds; total N = 6251). Structured interviews and clinical
examinations were performed. Inter-examiner reliability was high (kappa =
0.60-0.96). Samples of community water were taken for fluoride assessment.
Overall, the sample surveyed was acceptably representative of the
population, with some under-representation of rural residents and
agricultural workers. Re-weighting was performed in appropriate analyses.
The data analysis model used in the Second International Collaborative
Study was used as a guide for the present data analysis. This approach has
not previously been used on a Mainland Chinese population.
