Oral health among working poor in Hong Kong

Abstract

The link between poverty and poor health has long been acknowledged. Our Community Health Project aimed to survey and serve the ‘working poor’ in Hong Kong. Community participation was obtained through Health in Action and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Lady MacLehose Centre, leading advocates for working poor. Within the limitations of time and resources, outreach clinics were set up to assess oral health needs and provide primary dental care. The response rate was 96.4% with 81 of the 84 patients attending appointments. Most (54.3%; N=44) rated their oral health as poor and almost all (92.6%; N=75) reported to have experienced an oral health burden in the past year. Oral health knowledge was fair, with a mean score of 4.2 (S.D.=2.7) out of a highest possible score of 12. Oral health attitude was generally favourable, with an average score of 17.1 (S.D.=3.5), out of a possible score of 0 to 40 (with a lower score indicating more positive attitude). Poor oral-health related behaviours were evident: high snacking frequency (81.5%; N=66) and lack of regular dental check-up (97.5%; N=79). Most had a dental caries experience (87.7%, N=71) with a mean DMFT of 5.6 (S.D.=4.7), and approximately two-thirds (63.0%; N=51) had untreated cavitated carious lesions. Poor periodontal health was evident, with more than a third (38.8%; N=31) having deep periodontal pockets (CPI=4). Oral hygiene was poor with most (85.2%, N=69) having visible plaque and on average having visible plaque on over one-third (34.5%) of sites examined. Primary oral health care was provided involving oral health assessments, oral health education, scaling and prophylaxis, fluoride treatment, restorations (ART and conventional) and referral for further treatment.