The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63405

Melody Scheer, BS, RDH, Oral Health Program, Clark County Health Department, 2000 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663 and Kathy R. Phipps, DrPH, Oral Health Research Consultant, PO Box 1006, Morro Bay, CA 93443, 805-771-9788, kathy_phipps@class.oregonvos.net.

There is national data to document oral health disparities among Hispanic, American Indian, and African-American children. Data for other racial and ethnic minorities is lacking and there is a need to identify and document disparities within other population groups.

Although immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) account for 5% of all immigrants to the U.S. (1998), they are one of the largest ethnic groups in Southwest Washington. In 2001, 18% of mothers served by the Clark County, Washington WIC program were FSU immigrants while 18% were Hispanic. To document anecdotal information on disparities among FSU immigrants, dental screenings were completed on 514 children 3 years or younger enrolled in the Clark County WIC program. Compared to both white non-FSU and Hispanic children, FSU children had a higher prevalence of untreated decay (11.1%, 24.2%, 49.0%) and a higher prevalence of rampant decay (1.4%, 8.0%, 24.0%) with rampant decay being defined as caries on 7 or more teeth. More than 43% of the FSU children were in need of restorative dental treatment because of pain or infection, compared to 11% of the white non-FSU children (p<0.001). Although 20% of the children screened were FSU, they accounted for 45% of children with untreated decay.

In Southwest Washington, children of FSU immigrants are carrying the burden of dental disease. Potential obstacles to optimal oral health include lack of insurance, lack of dental education and preventive behaviors, dental fears, and language barriers. Research evaluating caries risk factors among FSU immigrants needs to be completed.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session participants will be able to: (
• describe the racial and ethnic composition of Southwest Washington, (
• describe oral health disparities among racial and ethnic groups in Southwest Washington, and(3)describe potential risk factors for caries among immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

Keywords: Early Childhood Caries, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.