Oral Health and Psychological Distress among Immigrants from Ethiopia

"Methods:" Three hundred and forty immigrants, age 18 years or more, comprised the study population. Dental caries was recorded employing the DMFT and caries-free indices. Periodontal health was recorded employing the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Participants were interviewed using a structured written questionnaire which included validated psychological distress scale. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

"Results:" About twice as many subjects with high levels of distress were found to have caries (p<0.001). Among the subjects reporting symptoms of psychological distress, 68% had periodontal pockets, more than four fold the prevalence rate among those who were found to be with no psychological distress (p<0.001). Psychological distress and periodontal pocketing increased the risk for caries (OR=7.52, p<0.01, and OR=5.01, p<0.01 respectively). Psychological distress, caries, and age, increased the risk for periodontal pocketing (OR=7.09, p<0.01, OR=4.81, p<0.01, and OR=4.36, p<0.01 respectively).

"Conclusions:" The present study provides evidence for role of post-immigration psychological distress in oral conditions in a low socioeconomic, relatively homogenous immigrant minority population. Health service needs to develop appropriate services in concert with public health and social services. This approach may help in the oral public health promotion of similar underprivileged groups.