Oral health problems facing refugees in Europe: a scoping review

Abstract Introduction Europe has been experiencing a flow of refugees and asylum seekers driven by conflicts or poverty. Their oral health is often neglected despite its clear impact on quality of life. Objective To explore the status of oral health among refugees and asylum seekers groups by examining the available literature and to determine which evidence exists regarding the problems they face in terms of oral health. Methods The current paper followed PRISMA guidelines. A scoping review methodology was followed to retrieve 2911 records from five databases and grey literature. Twelve articles met the following inclusion criteria: experimental research concentrated on the oral and dental health of refugees and/or asylum seekers between 1995 and 2020 in English. Analysis was both descriptive and thematic, whilst a critical appraisal was applied using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP). Results Seven studies (58,3%) were quantitative, while five studies (41,6%) were qualitative. In general, the quality of most of the studies (83.3%) was good. Limited access to oral health care services was shown with a higher prevalence of oral diseases compared to the native populations of the host countries. Approaches to improve oral health have been implemented in some studies and have shown positive outcomes. Conclusions Oral health care strategies should consider the oral health problems facing refugees in Europe, and oral health promotion campaigns are essential to give adequate guidance on how to access oral health care in the host countries.

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Eritrean Refugees’ and Asylum-Seekers’ Attitude towards and Access to Oral Healthcare in Heidelberg, Germany: A Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182111559 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (21) ◽

pp. 11559

Author(s):

Yonas Kidane ◽

Sandra Ziegler ◽

Verena Keck ◽

Janine Benson-Martin ◽

Albrecht Jahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Oral Health ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Dental Care ◽

Asylum Seekers ◽

Dental Treatment ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Oral health concerns in Eritrean refugees have been an overlooked subject. This qualitative study explored the access of Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers (ERNRAS) to oral health care services in Heidelberg, Germany, as well as their perceptions and attitudes towards oral health care. It involved 25 participants. We employed online semi-structured interviews (n = 15) and focus group discussions (n = 2). The data was recorded, transcribed, and analysed, using thematic analysis. The study found out that most of the participants have a relatively realistic perception and understanding of oral health. However, they have poor dental care practices, whilst a few have certain misconceptions of the conventional oral hygiene tools. Along with the majority’s concerns regarding psychosocial attributes of poor oral health, some participants are routinely consuming Berbere (a traditional spice-blended pepper) to prevent bad breath. Structural or supply-side barriers to oral healthcare services included: communication hurdles; difficulty in identifying and navigating the German health system; gaps in transculturally, professionally, and communicationally competent oral health professionals; cost of dental treatment; entitlement issues (asylum-seekers); and appointment mechanisms. Individual or demand-side barriers comprised: lack of self-sufficiency; issue related to dental care beliefs, trust, and expectation from dentists; negligence and lack of adherence to dental treatment follow-up; and fear or apprehension of dental treatment. To address the oral health burdens of ERNRAS, it is advised to consider oral health education, language-specific, inclusive, and culturally and professionally appropriate healthcare services.

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Oral health-related quality of life in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia: a qualitative exploration

10.21203/rs.3.rs-450002/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Caroline Nguyen ◽

Elisabeth Celestin ◽

Delphine Chambolle ◽

Agnès Linglart ◽

Martin Biosse Duplan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Health Care ◽

Oral Health ◽

Care Pathway ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Abstract Background. X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare, hereditary, and lifelong phosphate wasting disorder characterized by rickets in childhood and impaired teeth mineralization. In the oral cavity, spontaneous abscesses can often occur without any clinical signs of alteration of the causal tooth. The objective of our study was to evaluate the oral care pathway and the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients followed in an expert oral medicine department located within a Parisian hospital and working in close collaboration with an endocrinology department expert in this pathology. Methods. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design including semi-structured interviews using guiding themes. Results. Twenty-one patients were included in the study. The topics brought up exceeded the initial objectives as the patients mostly addressed the alteration of their oral and general quality of life; a very chaotic oral health care pathway with oral health professionals not aware of their pathology; consequences on their social, professional, and school integration; access to care complicated by financial factors. Patients declared the importance of having a multidisciplinary team around them, including medical and dental professionals.Conclusions. The variety of manifestations in patients with XLH necessitates a high coordination of multidisciplinary patient care to optimize quality of life and reduce disease burden. Oral health care pathways are very chaotic for patients who have difficulty finding professionals with sufficient knowledge of the disease. OHRQoL is therefore diminished. This situation improves when patients enter a coordinated care network.

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Integrated oral, mental and sexual health management for adolescents: a call for professional collaboration

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2016-0060 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Morenike O. Folayan ◽

Abiola A. Adeniyi ◽

Elizabeth O. Oziegbe ◽

Adesegun O. Fatusi ◽

Abigail Harrison

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Substance Abuse ◽

Oral Health ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Health Problems ◽

Oral Manifestations ◽

Care Providers ◽

Intentional Injuries

Abstract Background: Globally, young people account for 15.5% of the total global disability-adjusted life-years burden for all age groups. They face mental health, nutritional problems, accidental and intentional injuries, sexual and reproductive health problems, and substance abuse. These health challenges have effects on their oral health. This paper discusses the oral health problems adolescents face and suggests approaches for providing integrated oral and general health care for adolescents. Discussion: Oral health issues linked with adolescent health concerns include: malocclusion and esthetic concerns linked with mental health status; oral and maxillofacial injuries linked with accidental and intentional injuries; oral manifestations of sexually transmitted infections; oral leukoplakia and oral cancers linked with alcohol, tobacco and psychoactive substance abuse; and oral manifestations of anemia resulting from nutritional problems. Training oral health care providers on adolescent health and care could promote prompt diagnosis, management and prevention of complications associated with major health challenges affecting adolescents. Conclusion: Adolescent oral health care needs focused attention: as a possible route for early diagnosis and management of general health problems and for promoting adolescent oral health care. Oral health care should be integrated into adolescent friendly services and oral health care providers should learn how to handle adolescents’ health needs.

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Effects of Subjective Oral Health Care on Quality of Life

International Journal of Clinical Preventive Dentistry ◽

10.15236/ijcpd.2018.14.1.47 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 47-52

Author(s):

Jin-Hyo Seong ◽

Dong-Gi Kim ◽

Yong-Duk Park ◽

Seong-Kug Jeong

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Health Care ◽

Oral Health ◽

Oral Health Care

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Knowledge and practices of diabetes care providers in oral health care and their potential role in oral health promotion: A scoping review

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice ◽

10.1016/j.diabres.2017.06.004 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 130 ◽

pp. 266-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Prakash Poudel ◽

Rhonda Griffiths ◽

Vincent W. Wong ◽

Amit Arora ◽

Ajesh George

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Oral Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Diabetes Care ◽

Potential Role ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Care Providers ◽

Oral Health Promotion

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Relationship of Oral Health Status and Oral Health Care to the Quality of Life in Patients of Dental Hospitals and Clinics

Journal of dental hygiene science ◽

10.17135/jdhs.2015.15.5.594 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 594-602 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hyun-Seo Yoon

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Status ◽

Oral Health ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Oral Health Status ◽

Relationship Of

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Perception and belief in oral health among Karen ethnic group living along Thai-Myanmar border, Thailand

10.21203/rs.3.rs-41585/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sai Wai Yan Myint Thu ◽

Yaowaluk Ngeonwiwatkul ◽

Pannamas Maneekan ◽

Suparat Phuanukoonnon

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Oral Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Dental Health ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Health Problems ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Oral Health Promotion ◽

Health Seeking Behaviors ◽

Oral Health Services

Abstract Background: Utilization of oral health services has been low among rural populations in Thailand, especially for minority ethnicity populations living along the borders. The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the determinants of the underutilization of oral health services among these populations.Methods: A qualitative study using in-depth interview and semi-structured interview was conducted among participants of Karen ethnicity living in Mae Tan Sub-district, Thasongyang District, Tak Province, Thailand. The interviews focused on exploring the participants’ perceptions of oral health problems, oral health and hygiene, and oral health-seeking behaviors. The verbatim-transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: A total of 101 participants (50 adults and 51 children) with a Karen ethnic background took part in the interviews. Most participants could not identify oral health problems and did not perceive dental disease as a problem unless there was severe pain that could not be relieved by painkillers. The Karen ethnic community worked as subsistence farmers, and their busy daily activities consisted of farming, going to the forest to hunt and gather, performing housework, and taking care of their children. Dental health was given a lower priority compared with general health. The perceived value of primary teeth was low, which was identified as an underlying factor resulting in delayed oral health care seeking among this population. The participants had relied on self-care throughout their lifetimes, using either traditional medicines or modern painkillers to relieve toothaches. Fear of dental procedures among children was also described as a barrier to seeking dental health care.Conclusions: This study found that the lifestyle and traditions of Karen people living in this area influence their oral health care and hygiene activities as well as their health-seeking behaviors. Further research should emphasize how to improve oral health promotion by providing necessary services and health education appropriately to Karen ethnic populations living along the Thai-Myanmar border.

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