Impact of Oral Health on Quality of Life in Relation to Dental Caries and Social Determinants in Venezuelan Migrants Lima-2019

Abstract

To evaluate the results of the impact of oral health on quality of life through the OHIP-14 in relation to dental caries and social determinants in Venezuelan migrants. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a population of 350 Venezuelan migrants (30.1±7.4 years; 52% Men). Where to evaluate the impact of oral health on quality of life, the “Oral Health Impact Profile Spanish version Lima” questionnaire (OHIP-14sp Lima) was used, contrasting with both clinical (DMFT index) and sociodemographic factors, in order to determine the influence of these on the instrument. The impact of oral health on quality of life (OHIP-14) was determined, according to the average general score and by dimensions. Subsequently, a clinical examination was carried out evaluating the presence of dental caries lesions (DMFT Index) and sociodemographic data were collected through a survey. The average of the OHIP-14sp Lima generated a negative impact of 10.6% on the migrant population. The dimension of "Psychological Discomfort" was the one that showed a higher frequency of negative impact with a percentage of 38.3%. The results of the OHIP-14 sp Lima in the total of evaluated migrants were low in percentage terms, generating mostly an average of a positive impact. However, it cannot be ruled out that sociodemographic factors such as sex and levels of education; they were factors that did generate a negative impact, significantly affecting the results observed in one or more of the dimensions evaluated using the OHIP-14 instrument in the present study.