Oral health status among migrants in Campinas, São Paulo: A population-based study
Migration is a social and demographic phenomenon that influences health by reshaping support networks, access to services, and preventive practices. In Brazil, despite the historical relevance of internal migration, there is a lack of population-based studies addressing its impact on oral health. This study aimed to analyze oral health conditions among migrants aged 10 years and older living in Campinas, São Paulo, with comparisons by sex. A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted using data from the 2014 to 2015 Campinas Health Survey, which employed a probabilistic two-stage cluster sampling design. The final sample comprised 3,019 individuals. Outcomes included dental loss (partial or total), non-use of prostheses, self-rated poor oral health, reasons for consultations, access to urgent care, and psychosocial indicators, such as embarrassment when smiling and difficulty speaking. Associations between migration status and oral health outcomes were estimated using Rao-Scott chi-square tests and Poisson regression with robust variance, adjusting for age, education, race/skin color, and region of origin, stratified by sex. Migrants had poorer oral health than non-migrants, particularly among men. Male migrants had a higher prevalence of tooth loss, poor self-rated oral health, urgent dental visits, difficulty obtaining urgent care, and negative evaluations of services. They also reported greater difficulty speaking and embarrassment when smiling. No significant associations were found for women after adjustment for confounding factors. Nonetheless, the study provides novel evidence that internal migration in Brazil is associated with poorer oral health outcomes, with notable disadvantages for men. These findings highlight the need for policies that address the specific vulnerabilities of migrant populations in accessing and maintaining oral health care.
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