Exploring the association of self-rated oral health with self-rated general and mental health among older adults in a resource-poor context: Insights for advancing Sustainable Development Goal 3.

Abstract

Older adults in Ghana have been disproportionately affected by oral health issues such as caries and periodontitis. This situation calls for comprehensive attention within health and healthcare policies, due to the established connections between oral health and other aspects of health and well-being in high-income countries, including physical and mental health. However, there is a significant gap in the literature when it comes to exploring the association of oral health with physical and mental health in resource-constrained settings like Ghana. To address this void, we collected a cross-sectional sample comprising older adults aged 60 and above (n=1073) and analyzed self-rated health measures to investigate the relationship between oral health and general and mental health in Ghana. The results of our logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association: older adults who reported poor oral health were more likely to rate their general (OR=5.10; p<.001) and mental health (OR=4.78, p<.001) as poor, compared to those with good oral health, even after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic variables. Based on these findings, we discuss the policy implications of our findings, especially in the context of advancing Sustainable Development Goal 3 in Ghana and other resource-constrained settings.