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Background <p>Armed conflict disrupts health systems and daily self-care practices, yet quantitative evidence on its impact on oral health is scarce. This study compared self-reported oral health status, hygiene behaviours, and access to dental care among residents of the Gaza Strip before and during the 2023–2024 war.</p> Methods <p>A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 599 Gaza residents using a structured, self-developed 34-items online questionnaire. Participants reported oral health conditions and behaviours for two periods: before October 2023 and during the war. Paired categorical data were analysed using Bowker’s test of symmetry for multi-category variables, and McNemar’s test for binary variables, and subgroup associations were examined using chi-square tests.</p> Results <p>Significant deterioration was observed across all 12 assessed domains (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001 for 11 variables; <i>p</i> = 0.013 for the remaining variable). The proportion reporting severe oral pain increased from 6.5% pre-war to 73.8% during the war, while those reporting no pain decreased from 25.5% to 2.0%. Favourable self-rated dental status (excellent/good) declined from 85.3% to 9.7%, and the proportion reporting healthy gums decreased from 88.1% to 12.4%. Twice-daily tooth brushing fell from 77.5% to 9.5%, and complete cessation of brushing increased from 0.8% to 38.4%. Unmet dental care needs rose from 11.7% to 92.7%, with insecurity and lack of dental services as the main barriers. Stress-related oral habits increased markedly, and 86.0% of participants reported dependence on canned foods. Overall, 95.5% perceived their oral health to have worsened since the onset of the war.</p> Conclusion <p>The Gaza war was associated with profound deterioration in self-reported oral health status, hygiene practices, and access to dental care. These findings highlight oral health as a neglected dimension of humanitarian crises and underscore the need to integrate essential dental services into emergency health responses and post-conflict reconstruction.</p>

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Impact war on oral health among the Gaza population: a comparative cross-sectional study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月27日

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  • Ahmed Awad,
  • Omran Altos,
  • Ahmed Bashah,
  • Zaher Madi,
  • Shaffanath M. Fahumy,
  • Ayman Musleh,
  • Bassel AbuNasser,
  • Hongtao Jiang

摘要

Background

Armed conflict disrupts health systems and daily self-care practices, yet quantitative evidence on its impact on oral health is scarce. This study compared self-reported oral health status, hygiene behaviours, and access to dental care among residents of the Gaza Strip before and during the 2023–2024 war.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 599 Gaza residents using a structured, self-developed 34-items online questionnaire. Participants reported oral health conditions and behaviours for two periods: before October 2023 and during the war. Paired categorical data were analysed using Bowker’s test of symmetry for multi-category variables, and McNemar’s test for binary variables, and subgroup associations were examined using chi-square tests.

Results

Significant deterioration was observed across all 12 assessed domains (p < 0.001 for 11 variables; p = 0.013 for the remaining variable). The proportion reporting severe oral pain increased from 6.5% pre-war to 73.8% during the war, while those reporting no pain decreased from 25.5% to 2.0%. Favourable self-rated dental status (excellent/good) declined from 85.3% to 9.7%, and the proportion reporting healthy gums decreased from 88.1% to 12.4%. Twice-daily tooth brushing fell from 77.5% to 9.5%, and complete cessation of brushing increased from 0.8% to 38.4%. Unmet dental care needs rose from 11.7% to 92.7%, with insecurity and lack of dental services as the main barriers. Stress-related oral habits increased markedly, and 86.0% of participants reported dependence on canned foods. Overall, 95.5% perceived their oral health to have worsened since the onset of the war.

Conclusion

The Gaza war was associated with profound deterioration in self-reported oral health status, hygiene practices, and access to dental care. These findings highlight oral health as a neglected dimension of humanitarian crises and underscore the need to integrate essential dental services into emergency health responses and post-conflict reconstruction.