Oral health literacy and oral health status of a german adult population with migration background – findings from the MuMi Study

Abstract

Background

People with migration background in Germany demonstrate poorer oral health and different oral health behaviors compared to people without migration background. One crucial factor for achieving and maintaining good oral health is a person's oral health literacy. This article presents results on oral health and oral health literacy from the baseline data of the cluster-randomized controlled MuMi study (Promotion of oral health literacy and oral health of persons with migration background).

Methods

Comparative cross-sectional data on oral health and oral health literacy of patients with and without migration background were examined in 40 dental practices in Hamburg, Germany. Oral examination included a full dental status, the degree of caries restoration, and the approximal plaque index (API). To assess oral health literacy, the Oral Health Literacy Profile (OHLP) was used. Associations between migration status and oral health or oral health literacy were analyzed with linear mixed regression, adjusted for age, sex, education level. The relationship between oral health literacy and oral health was calculated using logistic regression.

Results

Participants with and without migration background differed significantly in oral health literacy and clinical parameters of oral health. The former showed significantly lower oral health literacy (lower OHLP-Scores) and poorer oral health (higher API values as well as a more problem-oriented dental service use). Furthermore, the degree of caries restoration is significantly lower among participants with migration background than those without. Lastly, the logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between better oral health literacy and lower API values.

Discussion

Migration background appears to be a risk factor in its own right, as the differences in oral health literacy and oral health status remain even after statistically controlling for several confounders. In order to better reflect the diversity within the population with migration background, information on potential access barriers and migration-related factors must be included in further analyses.

Conclusion

Oral health literacy has been found to be a strong predictor for an individual's oral health outcome. Improving the oral health literacy of patients may help in the efforts to improve oral health behaviors and the overall treatment outcomes. Thus, future research should focus on tailored preventive measures for improving oral health literacy, thereby helping to strengthen equal opportunities in oral health in Germany.