IADR Abstract Archives
The oral health-related behaviors of the unemployed adults in Finland
Objectives: We compared oral health-related behaviors of the unemployed and employed and assessed whether these behaviors vary according to the length of unemployment.
Methods: The study is part of the Nationwide Health 2000 Survey in Finland carried out by the National Public Health Institute in 2000-2001. The cross-sectional data on self-reported oral health, behaviors and sociodemographics were based on interviews and questionnaires. The present study was based on interview and included dentate 30-63 years old participants (n = 4670). Current employment status in its dichotomous form, employed vs. unemployed, and length of unemployment categorized into four groups (one year or less, over one to 2 years, 2-5 years, and over 5years) were used as exposures. Models of binary logistic regression were fitted separately for the oral health-related behaviors, each in its dichotomous form: daily tooth brushing frequency, habitual use of dental services, use of sugar in coffee or tea, use of gum with xylitol, smoking, and use of alcohol. Sociodemographics, socioeconomics, smoking, and alcohol were added as covariates to the models.
Results: The unemployed reported brushing their teeth at least twice a day (53%) whereas the employed (64%). The regular use of dental services among the unemployed was lower (42%) than the employed (61%). In fully adjusted model, current unemployment is inversely associated with beneficial oral health-related behaviors in terms of regular use of dental services (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.8), and use of gum with Xylitol (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9). After adjustments for income and education, the associations between unemployment and tooth brushing frequency and use of sugar in coffee or tea were statistically non-significant. Unemployment over 5 years was negatively associated with regular use of dental services (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.6).
Conclusions: The unemployed should be considered as a risk group for poor oral health-related behaviors.
Methods: The study is part of the Nationwide Health 2000 Survey in Finland carried out by the National Public Health Institute in 2000-2001. The cross-sectional data on self-reported oral health, behaviors and sociodemographics were based on interviews and questionnaires. The present study was based on interview and included dentate 30-63 years old participants (n = 4670). Current employment status in its dichotomous form, employed vs. unemployed, and length of unemployment categorized into four groups (one year or less, over one to 2 years, 2-5 years, and over 5years) were used as exposures. Models of binary logistic regression were fitted separately for the oral health-related behaviors, each in its dichotomous form: daily tooth brushing frequency, habitual use of dental services, use of sugar in coffee or tea, use of gum with xylitol, smoking, and use of alcohol. Sociodemographics, socioeconomics, smoking, and alcohol were added as covariates to the models.
Results: The unemployed reported brushing their teeth at least twice a day (53%) whereas the employed (64%). The regular use of dental services among the unemployed was lower (42%) than the employed (61%). In fully adjusted model, current unemployment is inversely associated with beneficial oral health-related behaviors in terms of regular use of dental services (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.8), and use of gum with Xylitol (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9). After adjustments for income and education, the associations between unemployment and tooth brushing frequency and use of sugar in coffee or tea were statistically non-significant. Unemployment over 5 years was negatively associated with regular use of dental services (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.6).
Conclusions: The unemployed should be considered as a risk group for poor oral health-related behaviors.