Depression and Rural Environment are Associated With Poor Oral Health Among Pregnant Women in Northern Appalachia

Socioeconomic inequalities in the use of dental health care among the adult population in Serbia

Objectives

The aim of this paper is to assess the association of demografic and socioeconomic determinants with utilization of dental services among Serbian adults.

Materials and methods

The study is a part of the population health research of Serbia, conducted in the period from October to December 2019 by the Institute of Statistics of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr. Milan JovanovićBatut" and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. The research was conducted as a descriptive, cross-sectional analytical study on a representative sample of the population of Serbia. For the purposes of this study, data on the adult population aged 20 years and older were used.

Results

Men were approximately 1.8 times more likely than women to not utilize dental healthcare services (OR = 1.81). The likelihood of not utilizing dental healthcare protection rises with increasing age, reaching its peak within the 65-74 age range (OR = 0.441), after which it declines. Individuals who have experienced marital dissolution due to divorce or the death of a spouse exhibit a higher probability of not utilizing health protection (OR = 1.868). As the level of education and wealth diminishes, the probability of abstaining from health protection increases by 5.8 times among respondents with an elementary school education (OR = 5.852) and 1.7 times among the most economically disadvantaged respondents (OR = 1.745). Regarding inactivity, respondents who are not employed have a 2.6-fold higher likelihood of not utilizing oral health care compared to employed respondents (OR = 2.610).

Conclusion

The results suggest that individual sociodemographic factors influence utilization of dental services by Serbian adults and confirmed the existence of socioeconomic disparities.

Relationship between Cognition, Depression, and Oral health status in Older adults: A longitudinal cross-lagged analysis

BACKGROUND

The world's population is aging increasingly, and older adults' physical and mental health needs to be prioritized. Although several studies have explored the relationship between cognition, depression, and oral health in older adults, the exact nature and direction of this relationship are poorly understood. Moreover, most studies to date have been cross-sectional, with fewer longitudinal studies. The current longitudinal study explored the relationship between cognition, depression, and oral health in older adults.

METHODS

We used data from two waves (2018, 2020) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, which included 4543 older adults aged 60 years and older. General socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed using descriptive analysis, and study variables were described using t-tests. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) and cross-lagged models were used to examine the longitudinal associations between cognition, depression, and oral health.

RESULTS

The GEE results suggested that better cognition and less depression over time were associated with better oral health in older adults. Cross-lagged models further validated the effect of depression on oral health over time.

LIMITATIONS

The directionality of the influence of cognition on oral health could not be determined.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there were several limitations, our study provided novel ideas for verifying the effects of cognition and depression on oral health in older adults.

Emotional distress and risk of dental caries: Evaluating effect modification by chronic conditions among low-income African American caregivers in Detroit, Michigan

Background/aim

Limited research has been conducted regarding the association between mental illness and dental caries. We studied the impact of emotional distress on current and new dental caries among low-income African-American caregivers in Detroit, Michigan and if this association was mediated by poor oral hygiene and sugar consumption and modified by a chronic health condition.

Methods

Data came from Detroit Dental Health Project, a prospective cohort study of low-income African American caregivers and their children. We focused on baseline (n = 1,021) and 4-year follow-up participants (n = 614). Dental caries were assessed using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System. The study outcomes included two baseline caries outcomes (counts of non-cavitated lesions, baseline counts of cavitated lesions) and two outcomes of new caries over 4 years (new cavitated lesions and new non-cavitated lesions). The exposure was emotional distress. We performed multivariable quasi-Poisson regression analysis to test the association between emotional distress and caries. We tested effect modification by stratifying data by chronic health conditions and performed causal mediation analysis to test an indirect effect of oral hygiene and sugar consumption.

Results

Ninety six percent of the caregivers were female, and their average age was 28 years old. Thirteen percent reported emotional distress at baseline. After accounting for potential confounding, emotional distress was positively associated with cavitated lesions at baseline (IRR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.70). Among those with a chronic health condition, stronger association was observed (IRR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.27, 2.35). After 4 years, those with emotional distress and chronic health conditions had an increased risk of developing non-cavitated carious lesions (IRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.88). Poor oral hygiene explained 51% of the association between emotional distress and baseline cavitated lesions (natural indirect effect = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.33), but there was no evidence for an indirect effect of sugar consumption.

Conclusion

In this group of young, African-American caregivers with low socioeconomic status, dental caries was associated with emotional distress. This association was explained by poor oral hygiene and strengthened among those who reported a chronic health condition.

Subgingival Microbiome in Pregnancy and a Potential Relationship to Early Term Birth

Background

Periodontal disease in pregnancy is considered a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. Periodontal disease has a microbial etiology, however, the current state of knowledge about the subgingival microbiome in pregnancy is not well understood.

Objective

To characterize the structure and diversity of the subgingival microbiome in early and late pregnancy and explore relationships between the subgingival microbiome and preterm birth among pregnant Black women.

Methods

This longitudinal descriptive study used 16S rRNA sequencing to profile the subgingival microbiome of 59 Black women and describe microbial ecology using alpha and beta diversity metrics. We also compared microbiome features across early (8-14 weeks) and late (24-30 weeks) gestation overall and according to gestational age at birth outcomes (spontaneous preterm, spontaneous early term, full term).

Results

In this sample of Black pregnant women, the top twenty bacterial taxa represented in the subgingival microbiome included a spectrum representative of various stages of biofilm progression leading to periodontal disease, including known periopathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia. Other organisms associated with periodontal disease reflected in the subgingival microbiome included several Prevotella spp., and Campylobacter spp. Measures of alpha or beta diversity did not distinguish the subgingival microbiome of women according to early/late gestation or full term/spontaneous preterm birth; however, alpha diversity differences in late pregnancy between women who spontaneously delivered early term and women who delivered full term were identified. Several taxa were also identified as being differentially abundant according to early/late gestation, and full term/spontaneous early term births.

Conclusions

Although the composition of the subgingival microbiome is shifted toward complexes associated with periodontal disease, the diversity of the microbiome remains stable throughout pregnancy. Several taxa were identified as being associated with spontaneous early term birth. Two, in particular, are promising targets of further investigation. Depletion of the oral commensal Lautropia mirabilis in early pregnancy and elevated levels of Prevotella melaninogenica in late pregnancy were both associated with spontaneous early term birth.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and correlated factors among pregnant women during their second and third trimesters in northwest rural China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The depression mood during their second and third trimesters has a negative impact on both the mother and her child. Compared with pregnant women in urban areas, rural pregnant women who are in more disadvantaged situation may have more serious psychological problems. Particular, many rural pregnant women had internal migrant work experience during pregnancy in rural China. It is thus necessary to study the prevalence of depressive symptoms and correlated factors among Chinese northwest rural pregnant women.

METHODS

This study was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 and surveyed 1053 pregnant women in the middle and late stages of pregnancy who were registered in rural areas, gave informed consent and did not suffer from cognitive impairment or severe mental illness. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Chinese Version of the Short Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-C21). Demographic characteristics, pregnancy characteristics and family factors were obtained through structured questionnaires. This study employed multiple factor logistic regression to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms and their correlates.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among pregnant women during their second and third trimesters was 16.14% (95%CI 13.92%-18.36%). Higher education levels (OR = 0.50; 95%CI 0.29-0.85) and taking folic acid (OR = 0.59; 95%CI 0.39-0.89) reduced the risk of depression symptoms. The family receiving rural welfare (OR = 1.69; 95%CI 1.04-2.75), migration for work (OR = 1.95; 95%CI 1.03-3.71) and living with both parents and parents-in-law (OR = 2.55; 95%CI 1.09-5.96) increased the risk of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among pregnant women during their second and third trimesters in Northwest rural China was 16.14% that was nearly 4 percentage points higher than the average survey result of the pregnant women in developed countries and was higher than the findings in Chinese urban areas. To prevent depression symptoms, it's essential to early screen and provide folic acid for free when antenatal examination. Moreover, maternal examination files should be established so that wo pay attention to the psychological status of pregnant women who were with low education levels, poor family economic situations, excessive parental burden and who had been migrant workers.

Place, Power, and Premature Mortality: A Rapid Scoping Review on the Health of Women in Appalachia

OBJECTIVE

Appalachian women continue to die younger than in other US regions. We performed a rapid scoping review to summarize women's health research in Appalachia from 2000 to 2019, including health topics, study populations, theoretical frameworks, methods, and findings.

DATA SOURCE

We searched bibliographic databases (eg, PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar) for literature focusing on women's health in Appalachia.

STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Included articles were: (1) on women's health in Appalachia; (2) published January 2000 to June 2019; (3) peer-reviewed; and (4) written in English. We excluded studies without reported data findings.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two coders reviewed articles for descriptive information to create summary tables comparing variables of interest.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Two coders co-reviewed a sub-sample to ensure consensus and refine data charting categories. We categorized major findings across the social-ecological framework.

RESULTS

A search of nearly 2 decades of literature revealed 81 articles, which primarily focused on cancer disparities (49.4%) and prenatal/pregnancy outcomes (23.5%). Many of these research studies took place in Central Appalachia (eg, 42.0% in Kentucky) with reproductive or middle-aged women (82.7%). Half of the studies employed quantitative methods, and half used qualitative methods, with few mixed method or community-engaged approaches (3.7%). Nearly half (40.7%) did not specify a theoretical framework. Findings included complex multi-level factors with few articles exploring the co-occurrence of factors across multiple levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies should: 1) systematically include Appalachian women at various life stages from under-represented sub-regions; 2) expand the use of rigorous methods and specified theoretical frameworks to account for complex interactions of social-ecological factors; and 3) build upon existing community assets to improve health in this vulnerable population.

Oral health and related risk indicators in north-central Appalachia differ by rurality

OBJECTIVES

This cross-sectional study assessed differences in oral health and related behaviours and risk indicators by rurality in a north-central Appalachian population using the Andersen behavioural model as a conceptual framework.

METHODS

Participants were residents aged 18-59 years (n = 1311) from the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia, selected according to a household-based sampling strategy. Rural-Urban Continuum codes (RUC) corresponding to the participants' residences were used to classify participants as rural or urban. Mixed models were used to test rural-urban differences in measures of oral health, related behaviours, and need, enabling, and predisposing risk indicators. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables: age, sex, race, income, perceived socioeconomic status, educational attainment and dental insurance.

RESULTS

Rural residents had poorer oral health overall, with fewer sound teeth (β = -1.79), more dental caries (β = 0.27) and higher rates of edentulism (5.2% vs 2.8%). Differences also were observed for dental care utilization and perceived barriers to care. Rural residents were less likely to attend dental visits as often as needed (26.9% vs 42.8%) and were more prone to seek care only after experiencing a dental problem (64.3% vs 43.9%). Rural residents also were more likely to report high costs (89% vs 62.6%) as a major reason for not having dental visits. Rural-urban differences for some oral health characteristics and behaviours could be explained by sociodemographic characteristics, whereas others could not.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed rural-urban differences in risk indicators and oral health outcomes in north-central Appalachia. Many of these differences were explained, completely or partly, by sociodemographic factors.

Access to Dental Care and Depressive Illness: Results from the Korea National Health Nutrition Examination Survey

Background and Objectives: Recent evidence suggests that oral health is associated with various systemic diseases including psychiatric illnesses. This study examined the association between depression and access to dental care in Korean adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional evaluation was performed using data from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014. The general characteristics of the participants, the current depression status, and issues with access to dental care were collected to evaluate the factors for not being able to make dental visits according to care needs. Results: The study population comprised a total of 5976 participants who were 19 years of age and older and represented 40.7 million Koreans. A multivariable logistic regression analysis with weighted observations revealed that participants with current depressive illness were about two times more likely to express that they could not make dental visits in spite of their perceived care needs (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.097; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.046–4.203). The reasons for not making dental visits included financial problems, perceived importance of the dental problem, and fear of visiting dental professionals. Conclusions: Korean adults with current depressive illness were less likely to make dental visits when they had dental care needs. To improve dental health accessibility for patients with depressive illness, coordinated efforts can be considered involving multidisciplinary health care professionals.

Latent Profiles of Health and Reproductive Risk and Protective Factors among Women in Appalachia

Women who use opiates and are involved in the criminal justice system in Appalachia may be prone to adverse health outcomes. In this study, we performed a latent class analysis of risk and protective factors on 400 drug-using women recruited from rural, Appalachian jails. A two-profile solution best fit the data. Both profiles evinced low levels of condom use, reproductive and physical health screens, and STD history. However, the primary substantive difference between the profiles was partner risk behavior: the higher risk class had main male partners with histories of injection drug use and incarceration. Results suggest that interventions need to be tailored to unique profiles of risk and protective factors, which should include taking partner risk into consideration.

Association between a child's caries experience and the mother's perception of her child's oral health status

BACKGROUND

Mothers play a primary role in the health of their children. This role may be of particular importance for children in Appalachia who have increased caries relative to children in other regions of the United States. The authors examined the degree to which a child's caries experience was in concordance with the mother's perception of the health of her child's teeth, and how concordance varied by sociodemographic factors.

METHODS

The authors obtained cross-sectional data on mother-child dyads with children younger than 6 years through the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia study. They interviewed and clinically examined a community-based sample of 815 mother-child dyads from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They used an unadjusted zero-inflated negative binomial model to estimate the association between a mother's perception of her child's oral health status and her child's caries. The authors compared sociodemographic factors between concordant and nonconcordant mother-child dyads using χ² tests.

RESULTS

The mother's perception of her child's oral health status was associated with the child's caries experience (P < .001). Two-thirds of mother-child dyads showed concordance between the mother's perception of her child's oral health status and the child's caries experience (n = 522, 64%). Concordance was associated with younger child age and the child having dental insurance (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

On average, mothers accurately perceived their child's caries experience. This accuracy was higher for younger children and children with dental insurance. The mother's awareness of her child's oral health status could be used to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies, particularly for young children vulnerable to caries.

Rurality and Risk of Perinatal Depression Among Women in the United States

OBJECTIVE

Rural populations may experience more frequent and intense risk factors for perinatal depression than their urban counterparts. However, research has yet to examine rural versus urban differences in a population-based study in the United States. Therefore, this study examined differences in risk of perinatal depression between women living in rural versus urban areas in the United States.

METHOD

Using 2016 data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, we examined the association between rural-urban status and the risk of depression during the perinatal time period. The total analytical sample included 17,229 women from 14 states. The association between rural-urban status and risk of perinatal depression was estimated using logistic regression, adjusting for race/ethnicity, maternal age, and state of residence. A second model adjusted for maternal education, health insurance status, and Women, Infants, and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC).

RESULTS

Odds of perinatal depression risk were higher by 21% among rural versus urban women (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.41) adjusted for race, ethnicity, and maternal age. This risk difference became smaller and not significant when adding maternal education, health insurance coverage, and WIC participation.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest a rural-urban inequality in perinatal depression risk. Reducing this inequality may require improving socioeconomic conditions and reducing associated risk factors among rural women.

Influence of Community-Based Dental Education on Practice Choice: Preliminary Data from East Carolina University

Maldistribution of the dental workforce contributes to poor access to oral health care. Community-based dental education (CBDE) may help to address this problem by using experiential learning to encourage new dentists to practice in underserved areas. The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (East Carolina University SoDM) employs a multifaceted strategy, including CBDE, to increase the number of dentists practicing in underserved areas of North Carolina. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of CBDE and other factors on practice choice among East Carolina University SoDM graduates. This cross-sectional study assessed practice intentions before and after a senior-year CBDE experience. Data were obtained for students in three graduating years from written student reflections and self-reported practice plans solicited at graduation. Of the total 156 students between 2015 and 2017 (52 each year), all students participated in at least one component of this evaluation: all students (100%) completed required student reflections, and 148 (95%) provided pre-graduation practice plans. Data were also obtained on alumni practice characteristics via a survey of recent graduates; 72 alumni (46% response rate) participated in the alumni survey. The assessments found positive attitudes towards the CBDE program before and after participation, although areas for improvement relating to business management and financial viability were reported. The majority of alumni respondents (67%) remained in the state to practice after graduation, with half reporting practicing in rural areas. For most alumni respondents (>75%), debt, salary, benefits, type of patient population, and desire to own/run a business were important factors other than the CBDE program influencing their practice choice. Nearly half of them (45.8%) rated desire to work in a public health setting as an important factor. This study provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of this educational model in retaining new dentists within the state to address the critical shortage of dentists in North Carolina.

Predictors of dental care utilization in north-central Appalachia in the USA

OBJECTIVES

Dental utilization is an important determinant of oral health and well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential associations between a variety of biopsychosocial factors and dental utilization in north-central Appalachia, USA, a region where oral health disparities are profound.

METHODS

This study used household-based data from the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia (COHRA1) study in north-central Appalachia, including 449 families with 868 adults. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach was used to determine the best-fitting predictor model for dental utilization among adult family members.

RESULTS

On average across West Virginia and Pennsylvania, having dental insurance was associated with greater dental utilization over a 3-year time period (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.54, 3.14). When stratified by state, the association held for only West Virginia (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.54, 3.79) and was nonsignificant for Pennsylvania residents (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 0.80, 2.79). Individuals from Pennsylvania were more likely to utilize dental care and participants from West Virginia less so (2.31, 95% CI = 1.57, 3.40). Females from Pennsylvania were more likely than males to regularly seek dental care (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.00, 2.05), and a higher income was associated with greater frequency of regular dental visits (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.34) in West Virginia. Individuals from Pennsylvania who scored higher on the Physiological Arousal subscale of the Dental Fear Survey were more likely to attend routine care visits (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.35). Across both states, more fatalistic beliefs related to oral health care also predicted less routine care (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.81, 0.94), and more investment in or more positive attitudes towards one's oral health also was associated with higher utilization (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the findings of this study suggest state residency, sex, insurance, income, fatalistic beliefs, health values, and aspects of dental care-related anxiety and fear predicted dental care utilization in north-central Appalachia. These findings reinforce the need to address insurance and other economic factors affecting utilization and to consider how individual-level fatalistic beliefs and oral health values may affect utilization of routine oral health care.

Rural and urban differences in prenatal exposure to essential and toxic elements

Excess or inadequate levels of inorganic ions may induce significant acute and long-term irreversible dysfunction in humans. The fetus and placenta are particularly vulnerable to toxins due to the immaturity of the blood-brain barrier and diminished biotransformation enzymatic activity. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 172 pregnant women, 79 rural, and 93 urban. Umbilical cord blood was collected at the time of delivery and analyzed for 20 inorganic elements. Significant differences were found between urban and rural samples for two elements where copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) were higher in urban samples. No marked differences between groups occurred for: arsenic, barium, cadmium, calcium, cobalt, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, selenium, strontium, or zinc. All samples were devoid of platinum, silver, thallium or uranium. Data demonstrated significant differences in urban and rural prenatal exposure to Cu and Mo. Further study is needed to determine if there is a causal link between neonatal outcomes and prenatal exposure to these elements.

Depressive symptoms and untreated coronal dental caries among adults ages 21-64 years, NHANES 2013-2014

BACKGROUND

Depression has been linked to poor oral health among patients seeking dental care. However, systematic research on the relationship between depressive symptoms and oral health is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of depressive symptoms with untreated dental caries among adults aged 21-64 years.

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

Cross-sectional secondary analysis.

SETTING

The data were extracted national data collected in the United States (2013-2014 National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey).

PARTICIPANTS

The sample consisted of 3,127 non-institutionalized civilians.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Untreated coronal dental caries (yes, no) was the key outcome variable. Depressive symptom categories (none, moderate, and severe) were derived from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Depression Scale.

RESULTS

In the study sample, 33.4% of adults had untreated coronal dental caries. Most participants (77.9%) did not report depressive symptoms; 13.9% had mild and 8.2% had moderate or severe depressive symptoms. In unadjusted analyses, individuals with mild (Odds Ratio = 1.62 [95% CI: 1.26, 2.08] and moderate/severe depressive symptoms (Odds Ratio = 2.70 [95% CI: 1.81, 4.02]) were more likely to have untreated coronal caries as compared with individuals without depressive symptoms. When sex, race, age, education, family income-to-poverty ratio, dental visits, history of previous dental restorations, health insurance, and smoking were included into the model, the associations were no longer statistically significant (1.27 [95% CI: 0.96, 1.69] and 1.61 [95% CI: 0.95, 2.73], respectively).

CONCLUSION

The relationship between depressive symptoms and untreated coronal dental caries failed to remain significant after the addition of tobacco usage in the analysis.

Recall of Dental Pain and Anxiety in a Cohort of Oral Surgery Patients

Dental patients generally recall more pain than they originally report, with ratings of pain related to state anxiety and dental fear, but the role of depression in recall of dental pain remains uncertain. This study examined the relative contributions of different variables in explaining dental pain recalled after tooth extraction. Patients presenting for tooth extraction, prior to extraction, rated their current dental pain and state anxiety, prediction of pain and state anxiety during extraction, depression, and dental fear. Immediately postprocedure and then 1 mo later, patients rated their pain and state anxiety during extraction. Hierarchical linear regression equations were used to explain variance in recalled pain and state anxiety. In addition, patients were divided into high and low dental fear and depression groups and compared on ratings of pain and state anxiety across time. In a final sample of 157 patients, the most important predictors of recalled pain were pain reported during extraction (β = .53) and recalled state anxiety (β = .52). Dental fear and depression had a significant interaction: only when patients reported less depression did those patients who reported more dental fear also report more pain than patients who reported less dental fear (P < 0.05, ω(2) = .07). Patients who reported more depression entered the dental operatory reporting more pain, but all patients generally reported less pain during extraction than they predicted or recalled. Memory of state anxiety and pain reported during tooth extraction, not depression or state anxiety at the time of extraction, were critical factors in memory of the pain associated with the procedure. At higher levels of depression, patients higher and lower in dental fear did not differ in report of pain. Future studies are needed to further clarify interactions of depression and dental fear over time.