Caries Research
Volume 48, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 575-583

Oral health disparities of children among southeast Asian immigrant women in arranged transnational marriages in Taiwan (Article)

Lin Y.C. , Yen Y.Y. , Chang C.S. , Ting C.C. , Chen P.H. , Chen C.C. , Peng W.D. , Chen F.L. , Hu C.Y. , Huang H.L.
  • a School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • b Department of Oral Hygiene, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
  • c Global Center of Excellence for Oral Health Research and Development, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • d School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • e School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • f Department of Oral Hygiene, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
  • g Department of Medical Sociology and Social Work, College of Humanities and Social Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • h Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • i School of Public Health, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • j Department of Oral Hygiene, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan

Abstract

This study assessed the oral health disparities and oral health care needs of children whose parents are Southeast Asian immigrant women in arranged transnational marriages. We used the baseline data of the Lay Health Advisor Approach to Promote Oral Health Program (LHA-POHP) to explore the disparities in oral health between immigrant and native children, and the factors associated with their oral health. A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted to collect data from mothers and their preschool children in Southern Taiwan in 2011. A total of 590 (440 natives, 150 immigrants) children aged 4-6 years and their mothers completed the questionnaire and oral examination. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the association between children's oral health and their related factors. The caries index was 6.05 in immigrant children and 3.88 in native children (p < 0.001). The caries prevalence of maxillary anterior teeth in the labial surfaces was higher among immigrants, ranging from 14.7 to 22%. The factor associated with children's caries index was maternal tooth brushing frequency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 8.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95-41.05). When the mothers did not direct children to brush teeth after eating sweets, their children were more likely to have decayed teeth (aOR = 3.54, 95% CI 1.04-12.03). Children's filled teeth were related to their dental regular check-ups (aOR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.26-4.10). Disparities in oral health among immigrant and native children were observed. The findings suggest that culturally adequate oral health promotion intervention programs should be implemented for immigrants. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Author Keywords

Oral hygiene Tooth brushing Public dental health Enamel caries Epidemiology

Index Keywords

education educational status Oral Health mother child relation health disparity Health Status Disparities human statistics and numerical data DMF index Mother-Child Relations Dental Restoration, Permanent feeding behavior ethnology tooth brushing Taiwan dental procedure Cross-Sectional Studies marriage health income Dental Care cross-sectional study Occupations migrant Humans dental restoration male Emigrants and Immigrants occupation preschool child female Southeast Asia Child, Preschool dental caries Mothers prevalence mother adult Food Habits administration and dosage Toothbrushing Asia, Southeastern Dietary Sucrose sugar intake Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906031241&doi=10.1159%2f000351680&partnerID=40&md5=f3a61764ed8a2ba3a2c9d902aa1487b7
DOI: 10.1159/000351680
ISSN: 00086568
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English