Oral health status and treatment needs in immigrants and refugees in Italy

Abstract

The caries prevalence, oral hygiene status, periodontal health and the treatment needs were assessed in immigrants and refugees in Catanzaro and Crotone, Italy. The mean DMFT and DMFS scores of adults, 18 or more years, were 8.1 and 33.1 for Yugoslavs, 7.4 and 28.8 for Moroccans, and 1.4 and 4.5 for Senegalese. The analysis of variance carried out on the three groups showed a significant inequality in their DMFT and DMFS scores. The stepwise linear regression showed that in the Moroccans and Yugoslavs the DMFT increased with age. The needs for dental extractions and for conservative dental care were respectively 15.8% and 39.5% in the Senegalese, 28.6% and 73.8% in the Yugoslavs, 32.7% and 77% in the Moroccans. Good oral hygiene status was scored for 26.3% Senegalese, 7.1% Yugoslavs, and 5.5% Moroccans. Good periodontal health was scored for 7.9%, 2.4%, and 1.2% of these groups. The analysis of variance carried out on the three groups showed a significant inequality in their OHI-S and PI, and the Bonferroni test showed a significant differences in both indices comparing the Senegalese with the Moroccans and in the OHI-S between Senegalese and Yugoslavs. The stepwise linear regression showed that in the Yugoslavs the OHI-S and in the Moroccans and Yugoslavs the PI increased with age. The results of this investigation demonstrated high caries prevalence, poor oral hygiene and periodontal health, and unmet needs for dental treatment in particular Moroccans and Yugoslavs, and a systematic and comprehensive implementation of oral health promotion program for these groups is a priority need.