Hubungan antara Kualitas Hidup dan Status Kesehatan Mulut di Wilayah Pesisir: Pendekatan GIS = THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN QUALITY OF LIFE AND ORAL HEALTH STATUS IN COASTAL AREAS: A GIS APPROACH

ABSTRACT Alaa Mahmoud Ahmed Mahmoud. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN QUALITY OF LIFE AND ORAL HEALTH STATUS IN COASTAL AREAS: A GIS APPROACH ( supervised by Drg. NURSYAMSI, M. Kes ) Background: Oral health plays a vital role in shaping adolescents’ physical, emotional, and social well-being. Adolescents living in coastal regions face unique vulnerabilities influenced by socioeconomic disparities, environmental conditions, geographic isolation, and limited access to dental services. These challenges contribute to high rates of untreated dental caries, periodontal problems, reduced oral health literacy, and consequent impacts on self-esteem, daily functioning, and overall quality of life. Understanding these interconnected determinants is essential for designing equitable public health strategies that address the needs of coastal populations. Objective: This study aims to explore the relationship between oral health status and oral-health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) among adolescents living in coastal areas. It synthesizes existing research on clinical indicators, behavioral determinants, environmental and socioeconomic influences, and integrates a conceptual Geographic Information System (GIS) framework to highlight spatial aspects of oral health disparities. Methods: This research employs a descriptive narrative literature review enriched with a conceptual GIS approach. Literature published between 2014 and 2025 was retrieved from Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, DOAJ, national and international journals, as well as global reports from WHO, ADA, and FDI. Inclusion criteria focused on studies addressing adolescents, coastal populations, oral health indicators (DMFT, periodontal conditions), OHRQoL measurements, social determinants of health, and environmental factors. Data were analyzed narratively and synthesized thematically across clinical, behavioral, social, and geographic dimensions. No primary data, participants, or statistical analyses were involved. Results: Findings from the reviewed literature indicate that adolescents in coastal areas experience significant oral health burdens shaped by a complex interplay of socioeconomic disadvantage, limited access to care, inadequate fluoridation, poor oral hygiene practices, and low oral health literacy. Higher prevalence of caries and periodontal conditions is strongly associated with lower OHRQoL, especially in domains related to physical pain, psychological discomfort, and social participation. Social determinants such as family income, parental education, community infrastructure, and healthcare accessibility consistently emerge as major predictors of disparities. The conceptual GIS framework highlights the importance of spatial analysis in identifying underserved zones, visualizing service gaps, and supporting targeted public health planning. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that oral health among adolescents in coastal communities is not solely a clinical issue, but the result of interconnected biological, behavioral, environmental, and social factors that collectively influence quality of life. Improving oral health outcomes requires a holistic and multisectoral approach involving preventive education, stronger school-based programs, improved service accessibility, enhanced community engagement, and spatially informed policy interventions. Integrating a conceptual GIS perspective provides additional insight into geographic inequities and supports strategic planning for more equitable oral health services in coastal regions.

Keywords: Oral health, Adolescents, Coastal communities, OHRQoL, Social determinants of health, DMFT, Periodontal health, GIS conceptual framework, Public health disparities, Literature review.