Utilization of dental services in refugees in Sweden 1975-1985.
Prior to 1940 the population of Sweden was one of the most homogeneous in Europe, with only 0.5% foreign born. Fifty years later, in 1990, the proportion of immigrants was around 15%. In order to describe and analyze consumption of dental care in different refugee groups in Sweden, data registered by the Department of Immigration and the National Social Insurance Board, on a random sample of 2489 refugees arriving in Sweden 1975-85, were merged. Information on nationality, date of arrival in Sweden, date of granting of permanent resident status and statistics on consumption of dental care were retrieved. During the period studied a total of 50,521 refugees arrived in Sweden. The average interval between arrival in Sweden and the first dental visit was 4.5 yr (95% < 1: 4.2-4.7). The total treatment time during the first course of treatment was 165.5 min (95% < 1: 148.7-182.3). Consumption of dental care did not decrease with an increased number of treatments. Only 38% of the refugees had visited a dentist at all in Sweden. With increasing number of years in Sweden the number of courses of dental treatment increased, but 41% of the refugees who had visited the dentist in Sweden had done so only once. This study shows a low utilization of dental services among refugees in Sweden in general. Refugees with dental visits in Sweden, in particular, had a high dental consumption.
Zimmerman
M
M
Department of Oral Diagnosis, Karolinska Institut, Huddinge, Sweden.
Bornstein
R
R
Martinsson
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors