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Namkoong, Park, Jung, and Ma: Oral health literacy of mothers belonging to multi-cultural families in Gangneung City: a case study
Original Article

J Korean Acad Oral Health 2016;40(2):71-78.

Published online: 15 June 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2016.40.2.71

Oral health literacy of mothers belonging to multi-cultural families in Gangneung City: a case study

Eun-Jung Namkoong, Deok-Young Park, Se-Hwan Jung, Deuk-Sang Ma

Department of Preventive Public Health Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University College of Dentistry, Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung, Korea

Corresponding Author: Deuk-Sang Ma Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, College of Dentistry Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Korea Tel: +82-33-640-2794 Fax: +82-33-640-6410 E-mail: mads@gwnu.ac.kr

Received 21 January 2016       Revised 26 April 2016       Accepted 20 May 2016

Copyright © 2016 by Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to identify the oral health literacy level of mothers in multicultural families and promote their oral health.

Methods

Participants were 46 mothers belonging to multi-cultural families who participated in the Oral health promotion program for multi-cultural families in Gangneung. For measurement of oral health literacy, 30 subjects were analyzed. Six pre-trained investigators conducted an interview with the mothers. Thirty-six mothers belonging to general families in Gangneung were included, and 30 subjects were analyzed. The Oral Health Literacy Instrument for Korean Children's Caregiver was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

The mean oral health literacy score for mothers from multi-cultural families was 10.83 out of 22.0, which was lower than the score for mothers from general families (P<0.05). The percentage of mothers from multi-cultural families whose oral health literacy was inadequate was 63.3%. Oral health literacy scores were significantly different by Korean fluency level (P<0.05). The correlation between Korean communication level and reading comprehension score was significant (P<0.01). The correlation between Korean communication level and total oral health literacy score was also significant (P< 0.05). Finally, there was a significant correlation between oral health knowledge and reading comprehension (P<0.05).

Conclusions

The oral health literacy score for mothers from multi-cultural families was lower than that for mother belonging to general families, and 63.3% had inadequate knowledge. Oral health professionals should use easy terms and consider the Korean communication capacity of mothers in their professional service.

Keywords: Mother, Multi-cultural family, Oral health literacy

References

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Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of subjects
Variables Mother in multi-cultural family Mother in general family P-value*
Age 20-29 5 (16.7) 5 (16.7) 0.698
30-39 14 (46.7) 11 (36.7)
≥40 11 (36.7) 14 (46.7)
Education level ≤Middle school 4 (13.3) 0 (0.0) 0.000
High school 10 (33.3) 3 (10.0)
≥College 11 (36.7) 27 (90.0)
No answer 5 (16.7) 0 (0.0)
Family income (10,000 KRW) ≤200 14 (46.7) 5 (16.7)
>200 10 (33.3) 25 (83.3) 0.000
No answer 6 (20.0) 0 (0.0)
Occupation Yes 16 (53.3) 14 (46.7) 0.797
No 14 (46.7) 16 (53.3)
Mother’s nationality Vietnam 6 (20.0)
China 13 (43.3)
Philippines 9 (30.0)
Etc. 2 (6.7)
Years of living in South Korea ≤4 10 (33.3)
5-7 9 (30.0)
≥8 11 (36.7)
Korean communication level Speak simple words 8 (26.7)
Short conversation 8 (26.7)
No discomfort 14 (46.7)
Total 30 (100.0) 30 (100.0)

*The data were analysed by Chi-square test.

Table 2.
Correct answer rate of oral health knowledge (N=60)
Questions Oral health knowledge
Mother in multi-cultural family Mother in general family P-value*
1. Labial frenum 30.0 56.7 0.049
2. Labial 80.0 96.7 0.126
3. Molar 56.7 96.7 0.001
4. Uvula 50.0 100.0 <0.001
5. Incisor 20.0 86.7 <0.001
6. Gingiva 73.3 86.7 0.179
7. Floor of the mouth 23.3 70.0 0.001
8. Bleeding 46.7 100.0 <0.001
9. Caries 43.3 93.3 <0.001
10. Palatal 36.7 66.7 0.032
11. Amalgam 20.0 63.3 0.002
12. Denture 6.7 46.7 0.002
13. Crown 30.0 60.0 0.003
14. Space maintainer 10.0 36.7 0.024
15. Interdental brush 40.0 80.0 0.006
Total 46.0 76.0

*The data were analysed by Chi-square test.

Table 3.
Mother in multi-cultural family’s oral health knowledge scores by socio-demographic characteristics
Variables Classification N Oral health knowledge P-value*
Education level ≤Middle school 4 5.75±2.50 0.627
High school 10 5.10±3.44
≥College 11 6.73±3.31
Family income (10,000 KRW) ≤200 14 5.21±2.54 0.158
>200 10 6.90±3.72
Occupation Yes 16 6.25±2.84 0.306
No 14 5.00±3.16
Years of living in South Korea ≤4 10 3.80±2.86 0.019
More than 4, less than 8 9 5.44±3.81
≥8 11 7.55±1.96
Korean communication level Speak simple words 8 5.13±3.64 0.015
Short conversation 8 3.25±2.81
No discomfort 14 7.36±2.24
Total 30 5.67±3.23

Values are Mean±SD. *The data were analysed by Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test.

Table 4.
Oral health literacy scores of subjects
Oral health literacy scores
Reading comprehension P-value* Numeracy section P-value* Total P-value*
Mother in multi-cultural family 6.37±4.38 <0.001 4.47±3.23 0.006 10.83±7.13 <0.001
Mother in general family 10.63±2.04 7.50±1.79 18.13±3.21

*The data were analysed by Mann-Whitney U-test.

Table 5.
Distribution of oral health literacy level of subjects (%)
Literacy level (Score) Mother in multi-cultural family Mother in general family P-value*
Inadequate (0-59) 63.3 6.7
Marginal (60-74) 6.7 20.0 0.000
Adequate (75-100) 30.0 73.3

*The data were analysed by Chi-square test.

Table 6.
Oral health literacy scores by socio-demographic characteristics
Variables Classification N Oral health literacy
Reading P-value* Numeracy P-value* Total P-value*
Education level ≤Middle school 4 6.50±3.10 0.869 4.75±4.42 0.964 11.25±5.85 0.724
High school 10 7.00±4.64 5.00±3.19 12.00±7.39
≥College 11 7.73±4.26 5.27±2.61 13.00±6.54
Family income (10,000KRW) ≤200 14 6.79±4.44 0.393 6.14±3.50 0.514 12.36±7.13 0.953
>200 10 8.40±3.09 5.90±2.72 13.60±4.74
Occupation Yes 16 7.19±4.70 0.267 5.19±3.25 0.146 12.38±7.58 0.202
No 14 5.43±3.93 3.64±3.12 9.07±6.40
Years of Living in South Korea ≤4 10 5.10±3.57 0.162 4.10±3.14 0.668 9.20±6.19 0.383
More than 4, less than 8 9 5.44±5.17 4.11±3.62 9.56±8.64
≥8 11 8.27±4.05 5.09±3.20 13.36±6.48
Korean communication level Speak simple words 8 3.87±4.29 0.021 3.50±3.46 0.172 7.37±7.42 0.059
Short conversation 8 4.75±3.32 3.63±3.11 8.38±6.02
No discomfort 14 8.71±3.95 5.50±3.08 14.21±6.39

Values are Mean±SD. *The data were analysed by Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test.

Table 7.
Spearman coefficient of Korean communication level, oral health knowledge, and Oral health literacy
Korean communication level Oral health knowledge Reading Numeracy Total
Korean communication level 1
Oral health knowledge 0.388* 1
Reading 0.501† 0.378* 1
Numeracy 0.290 0.115 0.722† 1
Total 0.428* 0.263 0.937† 0.901† 1

*P<0.05

† P<0.01 by Spearman correlation.

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