Disparities in self reported oral health problems among a young Syrian adult population.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of dental pain and other oral health problems among a young Syrian adult population and to identify socio-demographic factors associated with these experiences.


METHODS
An industrial sample of 400 men and women aged 18-34 years from Damascus, Syria.


METHODS
Study participants were interviewed about their experience of oral health problems in the previous year (1998). Socio-demographic information was collected.


RESULTS
93% (369) of the interviews were completed. The prevalence of oral health problems was high, with 96% (353) of respondents claiming that they experienced one or more problems in the previous year. Two thirds of participants (65%, 239) claimed they had dental pain in the previous year. Analysis revealed that dental pain experience was significantly associated with age and gender. Analysis considering all factors revealed that the odds of experiencing dental pain were higher amongst the younger age group (18-24 compared to 25-34 year-olds).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of oral health problems was high among the population studied. Socio-demographic variations in experience of dental pain were apparent, with young men of lower education having the greatest odds of dental pain experience in the previous year.
Alkhatib
M Nour
MN
WHO Collaborative Centre for Disability, Culture and Oral Health, National Centre for Transcultural Oral Health, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, 256 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK. M.alkhatib@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
Gilthorpe
Mark S
MS
McGrath
Colman
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013593:Syria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology