Characteristics of Self-Rated Oral Health among Syrian Refugee Parents in Ontario (2023) 

What is this research about? 

This multi-country multi-institute study, housed at Access Alliance MHCS, examines self-rated oral health and its associated factors among Syrian refugee parents living in Ontario and identifies factors that influence their oral health outcomes.  

What do you need to know? 

This research provides insights into the unique oral health needs of Syrian refugees in Ontario, advocating for policy changes and community support initiatives to improve their oral health outcomes.  

Canada hosted 44,000 Syrian refugees between 2015 and mid-2021, with 19,865 in Ontario as of June 2021. 

The influx of Syrian refugees to Canada since 2015 highlighted the need to address their health issues, with dental health being a significant concern due to its impact on overall health and well-being. Despite immediate eligibility for provincial health coverage, this did not include comprehensive dental care, leading to reliance on temporary programs like the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). Though the IFHP provides some dental coverage, it is temporary (12 months) and limited to emergency and basic dental care. 

What did the researchers do? 

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 540 Syrian refugee parents with at least one child under 18 years old, who resettled in Ontario after 2015. Participants were interviewed between March 2021 and March 2022. The sample included a mix of mothers (60.9%) and fathers, with an average age of 39.7 years. 

Telephone interviews were conducted in Arabic (Syrian dialect). Research assistants who could read, write, and speak in Arabic, specifically in the Syrian dialect, administered the survey. Data was collected on self-rated oral health, sociodemographic factors, migration factors, health status, and dental care access.  

What did the researchers find? 

Having dental health insurance (full or partial), being privately sponsored, having better physical and mental health, and regular dental visits were associated with improved self-rated oral health. Those who only had emergency dental care were linked to poorer self-rated oral health. Older age and lower education levels were also linked to poorer self-rated oral health. 

When it came to access to dental care:  

• 4.6% had complete oral health insurance coverage. 
• 6.3% rated their oral health as excellent. 
• 43.5% of participants rated their oral health as poor or very poor. 
• 56.9% had no dental health insurance. 
• 72.8% visited dentists only for emergencies. 

How can you use this research? 

Policymakers and Government Health Authorities:  

• Improve dental insurance coverage for refugees and extend the duration of temporary dental coverage programs to ensure long-term dental care access. 
• Enhance awareness and education on the importance of regular dental visits among refugee communities. 

Community Health Organizations:  

• Develop targeted programs for dental health education and care access for refugees, focusing on preventive care rather than emergency treatments. 

Dental Practitioners:  

• Be aware of the unique challenges faced by refugees and tailor services to be more accessible, understanding the financial and cultural barriers. 

Refugee Support Organizations  

• Advocate for better dental coverage for refugees. 
• Provide guidance on accessing available dental services. 

Study authors and journal/book name 

Authors: Aseel Alzaghoul, Parmin Rahimpoor-Marnani, Khalid Yunis, Akm Alamgir, Baraa Alghalyini, and Hala Tamim. 

Publication: International Journal of Dentistry, Volume 2023 (original link) 

Related Access Alliance Activities 

Best Practices for Planning Services During Large Cohort Refugee Arrivals 
Based on Syrian refugee response, this study seeks to identify best practice recommendations for planning and delivering services when large cohorts of refugees arrive within a short span of time. Our study results show that the urgency and extraordinary situation of large cohort arrivals of Syrian refugees within a few months was met with an extraordinary response in terms of public goodwill, rapid response, problem-solving, and scale of planning and delivery of services.