Abstract
PurposeEthnic background is known to be related to oral health and socioeconomic position (SEP). In the context of patient-centered oral health care, and the growing number of migrant children, it is important to understand the influence of ethnic background on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Therefore, we aimed to identify the differences in children’s OHRQoL between ethnic groups, and the contribution of oral health status, SEP, and immigration characteristics.MethodsThis study was part of the Generation R Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In total, 3121 9-year-old children with a native Dutch (n = 2510), Indonesian (n = 143), Moroccan (n = 104), Surinamese (n = 195), or Turkish (n = 169) background participated in the present study. These ethnicities comprise the most common ethnic groups in the Netherlands. OHRQoL was assessed using a validated short form of the child oral health impact profile. Several regression models were used to study an association between ethnic background and OHRQoL, and to identify potential mediating factors.ResultsTurkish and Surinamese ethnic background were significantly associated with lower OHRQoL. After adjusting for mediating factors, only Surinamese children had a significantly lower OHRQoL than Dutch children (β:− 0.61; 95% CI− 1.18 to –0.04).ConclusionsOur results show that Turkish and Surinamese children have a significantly lower OHRQoL than native Dutch children. The association was partly explained by oral health status and SEP, and future studies are needed to understand (cultural) the determinants of ethnic disparities in OHRQoL, in order to develop effective oral health programs targeting children of different ethnic groups.
Highlights
Oral health status in children has been improved over the past few decades
The prevalence of a caries-free dentition was higher among native Dutch children (80.2%) and Indonesian children (83.2%) than among Moroccan (39.0%), Surinamese (68.3%), and Turkish children (49.2%)
The mediating effects of oral health status and socioeconomic position (SEP) combined for Moroccan, Surinamese, and Turkish children were, respectively, − 81.3%, − 18.9%, and − 42.0% (Table 2)
Summary
Oral health status in children has been improved over the past few decades. Differences in the prevalence of several clinical oral health outcomes still exist in western countries, including the Netherlands, disfavoring children from ethnic minority groups [1,2,3]. There is no full understanding of the pathway driving these oral health inequalities [4]. In the last 20 years, the proportion of migrants in the Dutch population increased from 17 to 23% [5]. Considering the internationalization and the increase of migration groups, the number of children with a non-native background will grow further in the future, and the possibility of oral health inequalities might increase [6]. Oral health cannot be disclosed from the broader framework of general health. Any impairment in its functioning will limit people in social-psychological circumstances, and
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