title: Exploring child dental service use among migrant families in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study describes and explores factors related to dental service use among migrant children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from Teeth Tales, an exploratory trial implementing a community based child oral health promotion intervention. The sample size and target population was 600 families with 1-4 year old children from Iraqi, Lebanese and Pakistani backgrounds residing in metropolitan Melbourne. Participants were recruited into the study using purposive and snowball sampling techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most (88%; 550/625) children had never visited the dentist (mean (SD) age 3.06 years (1.11)). In the fully adjusted model the variable most significantly associated with child dental visiting was parent reported 'no reason for child to visit the dentist' (OR = 0.07, p < 0.001). Of those children whose parents reported their child had no reason to visit the dentist, 22% (37/165) experienced dental caries with 8% (13/165) at the level of cavitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental service use by migrant preschool children was very low. The relationship between perceived dental need and dental service use is currently not aligned. One in 10 children of select migrant background had visited a dentist, which is in the context of 1 in 3 with dental caries. To improve utilization, health services should consider organizational cultural competence, outreach and increased engagement with the migrant community.
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|North Richmond Community Health Limited, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Merri Community Health Services, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|North Richmond Community Health Limited, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Services, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.affiliation: Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riggs
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Services, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Calache
authors.affiliation: Merri Community Health Services, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tadic
authors.affiliation: North Richmond Community Health, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|North Richmond Community Health Limited, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007493:Iraq / Q000208:ethnology; D007861:Lebanon / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014505:Urban Population; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Child; dental health services; human migration; oral health; preschool