Substance Use, General Health and Health Literacy as Predictors of Oral Health in Emerging Adult Sexual Minority Men of Color: A Secondary Data Analysis

S. Raquel Ramos, David T. Lardier, Rueben C. Warren, Melba Cherian, Sarwat Siddiqui and Trace Kershaw
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S. Raquel Ramos: Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
David T. Lardier: Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Rueben C. Warren: National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA
Melba Cherian: Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
Sarwat Siddiqui: Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
Trace Kershaw: School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: There is limited evidence surrounding oral health in emerging adult, sexual minority men of color. This study examined the association between sociodemographic factors, health literacy, cigarette, e-cigarette, and alcohol use on oral health outcomes. Secondary data analysis was conducted with 322 sexual minority men ages 18–34 in the United States. Between-group, mean-level, and multivariable logistic regression analyses examined differences on oral health outcomes. Increased cigarette (aOR = 1.84, p = 0.03), e-cigarette (aOR = 1.40, p = 0.03), and alcohol use (aOR = 2.07, p = 0.05) were associated with extended time away from the dentist. Health literacy (aOR = 0.93, p = 0.05) was negatively associated. Increased cigarette (aOR = 1.17, p = 0.04) and cigarette use (aOR = 1.26, p = 0.04) were associated with tooth loss. Health literacy was negatively associated (aOR = 0.65, p = 0.03). Increased e-cigarette (aOR = 1.74, p = 0.04) and cigarette use (aOR = 4.37, p < 0.001) were associated with dental affordability issues. Lower health literacy and racial identification as Black were associated with dental affordability issues; demonstrating an urgent need to address these factors to improve oral health in emerging adult sexual minority men of color.

Keywords: oral health; systemic health; tooth loss; health literacy; sexual minority men; substance use; electronic cigarette; young adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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