A Cross-sectional Survey of Oral Health Status and Literacy of a Sample of Homeless Adults in Kuala Lumpur City

Despite global improvements of oral care standards, access to oral health care remains a challenge in pockets of communities around the world including homeless. Objective: To determine self-perceived oral health status of the homeless population and its impacts on daily performance as well as their level of oral health literacy. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing a sample of 67 homeless in the city of Kuala Lumpur on socio-demographic details; oral health status; oral impacts on daily performance (OIDP); oral health literacy (OHL); and dental service utilisation. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 50.2 years (SD=11.6), majority were males (95.5%). More than half of the respondents were employed, and one-quarter did not complete secondary education. Majority reported having gum problems, teeth not well-aligned, dental cavities and being in need of prosthesis. The frequency of impacts on daily performance were highest for eating (62.7%), speaking (38.8%) and maintaining emotional stability (29.9%). The mean score for the HeLD-14 instrument was 23.6 (11.0). Majority visited the dental clinic only when necessary (80.3%). Conclusion: The homeless population in urban Kuala Lumpur demonstrated high unmet dental treatment needs, low oral health literacy and poor dental utilisation behaviour.