The influence of social indices on oral health and oral health behaviour in a group of Flemish socially deprived adolescents

AIM: To investigate the impact of social indices on oral health and oral health behaviour in socially deprived adolescents and young adults in Flanders. METHOD: The study design was cross-sectional and included 68 subjects aged 12 to 26, who called for help by "Habbekrats", a non-profit organisation rendering assistance to adolescents and young adults living on the fringes of our society. The clinical oral examination was performed using criteria based on the diagnostic criteria for caries prevalence surveys published by BASCD. Information on parental occupational level, educational level, living condition and oral health behaviour was gained using questionnaires completed by the participants themselves and their social workers. RESULTS: The mean age was 16.2 years. Within the sample 92% and 90.8% respectively had a father or mother belonging to a low social level. For 68% of the sample the educational level was low. Concerning oral health behaviour 67% reported nutritional habits conducive to poor oral health whereas 64% reported good oral hygiene habits. The mean DMFS was 11.42 (SD = 14.33) and the mean care-index equalled 0.60 (SD = 0.39). Statistical analysis by means of a logistic regression model revealed that only the 'living condition' had a statistically significant influence on oral health behaviour (p < or = 0.05) and care-index (p < or = 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the parents occupation and subjects' educational level and the oral health behaviour and oral health status of the study group. CONCLUSION: From this analysis it is clear that 'living condition' had a significant influence on the oral health behaviour and care indices of the studied population of socially deprived adolescents