| 2752 Community Assessment of Oral Health in Bexar County, TX | ||
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M. REED1, J. STEFFENSEN1, T. GRANSTON1, W.D. SPEARS2, D.W. SMITH2, and D. CAPPELLI1, 1University of Texas - San Antonio / Health Science Ctr, USA, 2University of Texas HSC-Houston, School of Public Health, San Antonio, USA Objectives: Community assessment of oral health is critical to develop population-based prevention strategies. This project measures key oral health and general health indicators from persons living in Bexar County, TX. Methods: Utilizing secondary data from the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), four oral health indicators were described and compared to 19 health variables. Findings from Bexar County (n=441) were compared to similar data from USA, Texas, Dallas and Harris Counties. Analyses were conducted using SAS software. Results: Disparities in accessing oral health care were seen among persons with a lower socio-economic status (SES) and those with increased risk for disease. Frequency of dental visits in the past year were negatively correlated with income (80.8%>$50,000 vs. 45.5%<$5,000), health insurance (69.7% insured vs. 41% uninsured) and having a medical home (84% with home vs. 48.1% no home). More Whites (70.2%) than Hispanics (51.3%) accessed care in the past year. Smokers were less likely to access preventive care (51.2%) than non-smokers (66.4%). Diabetics were less likely to access preventive care (50.9%) than non-diabetics (65.4%). Risk for tooth extraction correlated with lower income (33.1%>$50,000 vs. 57.9%<$5,000), less education (64.6% less than HS vs. 41.8% with college), diabetes (42.4% non-diabetics vs. 63.2% diabetics) and obesity (51.8% BMI>25 vs. 34% BMI<25). People in Bexar County experienced a lower prevalence of complete edentulism (11.6%) than the other Texas counties (Dallas: 19.1%, Harris: 13.8%), statewide (16.2%) and the USA (22%). Conclusions: Barriers to accessing routine care are evident, especially for persons of lower SES. Individuals with behaviors and co-morbidities that place them at greater risk for oral disease face greater barriers to care. Prevention programs that target at-risk persons could reduce the burden of disease in these groups. Supported by NIDCR #DE14318, CO-STAR. | ||
| Seq #285 - Epidemiology 10:45 AM-12:00 PM, Saturday, March 24, 2007 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Exhibit Hall I2-J | ||
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