Paul L. Geltman|Jo Adams|Jennifer Cochran|Gheorghe Doros|Denis Rybin|Michelle Henshaw|Linda L. Barnes|Michael K. Paasche?Orlow
The Impact of Functional Health Literacy and Acculturation on the Oral Health Status of Somali Refugees Living in Massachusetts
Boston University|Boston University|Boston University|Boston University|Boston University|Boston University|Boston University|Boston University
assessed impact health literacy acculturation oral health status somali refugees massachusettsbetween december 2009 june 2011 surveyed 439 adult somalis lived united states 10 years less assessments included oral examinations decayed missing filled teeth dmft counts measurement spoken english health literacy tested associations generalized linear regression modelsparticipants means 14 decayed 28 missing 13 filled teeth among participants united states 0 4 years lower health literacy scores correlated lower dmft rate ratio rr 078 p 016 among participants country 5 10 years lower literacy scores correlated higher dmft rr 137 p 012 literacy significantly associated decayed teeth lower literacy scores correlated marginally lower risk periodontal disease odds ratio 022 p 047worsening oral health somali refugees time may linked less access preventive care less utilization beneficial oral hygiene practices