Dental Health, Caries Perception and Sense of Discrimination among Migrants and Refugees in Europe: Results from the Mig-HealthCare Project
Source abstract
Abstract
Dental and oral health are considered among the main health issues for migrants and refugees, as access to dental health care services is often expensive and difficult. The study investigates dental and oral health determinants among migrants and refugees in 10 European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Sweden), examining how mental health, legal status, discrimination issues and dental services’ use frequency affect dental health. Methods: A cross sectional study using a purpose-made questionnaire was carried out to assess health status and access, with a dedicated section to measure self-perceived dental health, prevalence of caries, last visit to dentist and anticipated access to dental health services. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to investigate the impact of quality of life, discrimination, immigration status, and other demographic factors on dental health. Results: About half of the sample suffered from poor dental condition and 22% had never visited a dentist. Migrants with higher educational levels had higher odds of having good dental health (OR = 1.08; 95%CI (1.03, 1.12)) and brushing their teeth daily (OR = 1.1; 95%CI (1.04, 1.17)). Higher general and mental health scores were indicative of better dental condition (general health: OR = 1.02; 95%CI (1.01, 1.03); mental health: OR = 1.01; 95%CI (1.004, 1.02)) and higher probability of daily teeth brushing (general health: OR = 1.02; 95%CI (1.01, 1.03); mental health: OR = 1.02; 95%CI (1.01, 1.03)). The possession of any kind of legal immigration permission and not having any children showed similar results. Age and discrimination were correlated with decreased likelihood for good dental conditions. Gender was correlated with daily teeth brushing, as female migrants had higher odds of brushing their teeth daily. Conclusions: Many migrants report poor dental health. Nonetheless, migrants with higher education levels, legal immigration status, better general and mental health, no children, lower sense of discrimination, younger age, and regular dental visits were positively correlated to good dental health (perceived as no dental caries).
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Dental Health and Care Utilization · Migration, Health and Trauma · Global Health Workforce Issues
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health, Prolepsis, 15121 Marousi, Greece
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Department of History of Science, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard College, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC), Wolfson College, Linton Rd., Oxford OX2 6UD, UK
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Funding
European Union’s Health program (2014–2020) Consumers · Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA) · Project Acronym Mig-HealthCare · Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Spanish Government
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