THE ORAL HEALTH STATUS OF ROASTED FISH VENDORS IN NGURU FISH MARKET, NGURU, YOBE STATE

ABSTRACT This research study was based on “The Oral Health Status of Roasted Fish Vendors in Nguru Fish Market, Nguru, Yobe State.” The objectives of the study are to determine the oral health status of roasted fish vendors, the oral health challenges faced by roasted fish vendors and to determine the oral health education strategies used to address the challenges faced by roasted fish vendors in the study area. Descriptive survey method was employed, simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 100 respondents (roasted fish vendors) representing the target population of 1000, which gives the respondents equal right of participation in the study to eschew bias, discrimination, insult and embarrassment. Results of the study showed that Roasted fish vendors have poor oral health status due to improper awareness about oral health and poor socio-economic status whereby such conditions might lead to so many oral diseases. It was recommended that dental health practitioners should create awareness on oral health and poor socio-economic status to roasted fish vendors that have poor oral health status and government should help in educating roasted fish vendors on the importance of practicing proper oral hygiene and to provide them with free medication which will help them and the community people in attending dental clinics for treatment and check-up in the study area.