Habits, attitudes and behavior of refugees and migrants in Serbia in relation to oral health

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate: self-reported oral health, oral health related habits, nutrition and use of dental services among refugees and migrants in Serbia. Methods: Total of 226 migrants participated in the study. Participants were situated in the migrant centers Obrenovac and Krnjaca, in Belgrade, Serbia. All participants were given a questionnaire in order to examine oral health habits, attitudes and behavior among refugees and migrants. The questionnaire consists of 29 questions. SPSS 24 statistical software was used to analyze answers from the questionnaire. Results: Out of 226 examinees, 40 were female and 186 were male. Majority were adults (87.6%) and 12.4% were children. The results show that refugees and migrants who spend 200-300? per month consume the most alcohol (33.3%) and tobacco (61.1%). Only 10.8% of men answered they have been to the dentist in Serbia, whereas 35% women had the same answer (p=0.000). The research also showed that most women (67.5%) brush their teeth 2-3 times a day and noticeably less men (37.1%) had the same habit. Fluoride supplements are used by 78.7% of examinees. Among most common reasons for the last visit to the dentist were pain (36.9%) and regular checkups (22.5%). Conclusion: Preservation of oral health of refugees and migrants in Serbia depends on various factors. Improving and preserving good general and oral health of refugees and migrants should be a public healthcare priority.