Differences in Self Perceived Oral Health Indicators According to the Ethnic Origin

Background: Oral health problems are within the first morbidity causes. These diseases are not related only with individual factors since there are social, economic and politic determinants such as, gender, social class and ethnicity. Accordingly, we aim to analyse the relationship between various oral health indicators and the ethnic origin in Colombia.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with the information provided for the National Health Survey in Colombia (2007). This survey was carried out in a population in 80.631 people in the Colombian households.  Exposure variable was ethnic group (yes/no and regrouped in: Romani, Raizal, Palenquero and Afro-Colombian, none). Outcomes were (Yes/No): any oral health problem, oral pain, dental caries, gum bleeding and unmet dental needs). Confounders: sex, age and education and self-rated health (good/poor). We calculated frequencies and crude and adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) with confidence intervals (95% CI) by mean of logistic regression.

Results: People belonging to any ethnic group were more likely to report any oral health problem (aOR 1.24; 95% CI 1.16- 1.32); oral pain (aOR 1.29 95% CI 1.20- 1.39), dental caries (aOR 1.34 95% CI 1.22- 1.47), gum bleeding (aOR 1.33 95% CI 1.19- 1.49) and unmet dental needs (aOR 1.38 95% CI 1.27- 1.49). Differences according to sex and type of ethnic group were found. Indigenous people and Palenquero were more likely to report mostly of the indicators analysed.

Conclusions: Ethnic groups in Colombia are sensible to report oral health problems. Political actions focused in social determinants of health are required in order to diminish health inequalities.

Support: Ministry of Social Protection- Colombia- University of Antioquia (Reference: 519-2008)