Assessment of Oral Health Seeking Behaviour Among Dayak Punan Communities in East Kalimantan: Cultural Insights Into Manyipa

Objectives: This study examined oral health seeking behaviour and manyipa (betel chewing) practices among Dayak Punan communities in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and identified sociodemographic cultural and geographic factors affecting dental care access.Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 adults in Long Apari District, Mahakam Ulu Regency. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported oral health complaints, manyipa chewing practices, and access to dental care. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were used to examine associated factors.Results: Oral healthcare utilization was predominantly symptom-driven, with dental visits commonly occurring in response to pain rather than for preventive care. Daily manyipa chewing, lower educational attainment, and greater distance from dental facilities were independently associated with poor oral health-seeking behaviour. Daily manyipa chewing showed the strongest association (aOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.52–3.93), followed by primary education (aOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.20–3.27) and travel distance greater than 5 km (aOR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.05–2.64).Conclusion: Manyipa chewing, educational attainment, and geographic accessibility were associated with dental-service nonuse among Dayak Punan adults reporting oral health complaints. Culturally appropriate oral health education and alternative service-delivery approaches, including mobile dental services and teledentistry, warrant evaluation in this setting.