Introduction
Acculturation may strongly influence use of or access
to health services among Hispanics in the United States. We assessed the
relationships between acculturation and use of oral health services among
Hispanic adults in the United States.
Methods
Data were analyzed from Hispanic adults aged 18 years or
older who participated in the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Hispanics were defined by self-report of Spanish or Hispanic heritage.
Preference to be interviewed in English or Spanish was used as a proxy for
acculturation. Having had a dental visit in the previous 12 months was used as a
proxy for use of oral health services.
Results
English-speaking Hispanics were more likely to have had a
dental visit in the previous 12 months compared with Spanish-speaking Hispanics
(crude odds ratio [OR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-1.71). After
controlling for potential confounders, language was not significantly associated
with having had a dental visit (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.87-1.26; P = .61,).
The most significant predictors for having had a dental visit in the previous 12
months were sex, education, income, and having health insurance.
Conclusion
Acculturation assessed by language spoken was not
significantly associated with having had a dental visit in the previous 12
months among adult Hispanics in the United States. The common determinants of
health care use, such as sex, income, level of education, and health insurance
status, were the most significant predictors of use of oral health services
among adult Hispanics.