Predictors of limited access to dental health care among NYC taxi/FHV drivers Journal Article
| Authors: | Leopold, K. T.; Kim, S. Y.; Narang, B.; Mirpuri, S.; Meraji, N. N.; Roberts, N.; Li, Y.; Gany, F. |
| Article Title: | Predictors of limited access to dental health care among NYC taxi/FHV drivers |
| Abstract: | Taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers are a largely immigrant, low-income occupational group at increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Poor dental health is a CVD risk factor, and dental care access is an unexamined taxi/FHV driver CVD risk factor. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 422 taxi/FHV drivers (2016–2017) to identify predictors of access to dental health care among drivers. One-third (n = 128, 30.3%) reported needing dental care/tests/treatment within the past six months, and nearly one-half (n = 61, 48%) were delayed/unable to obtain care. Only 57.6% (n = 241) had past-year dental cleanings. Not having enough money to cover household expenses was a significant predictor of being delayed/unable to obtain needed dental care/tests/treatment in the prior six months (0.5 OR; 95% CI, 0.28–0.89; p <.05). Lack of dental insurance coverage (2.72 OR; 95% CI, 1.60–4.63; p <.001) or lack of primary care provider (2.72 OR; 95% CI, 1.60–4.63; p <.001) were associated with lack of past-year dental cleaning. Seventeen percent of drivers with Medicaid were unaware of their dental coverage, which was associated with both inability to access needed dental care/tests/treatment in the past 6 months (p =.026) and no past-year dental cleaning (p <.001). Limited understanding of dental coverage was associated with both an inability to access needed dental care/tests/treatment in the past 6 months (p =.028) and lack of past-year dental cleaning (p =.014). Our findings can inform targeted intervention development to increase taxi/FHV driver dental care access/uptake, potentially improving their CVD risk. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature. |
| Keywords: | insurance; cross-sectional study; dental care; immigrants; dental; working poor |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Community Health |
| Volume: | 46 |
| Issue: | 5 |
| ISSN: | 0094-5145 |
| Publisher: | Springer |
| Date Published: | 2021-10-01 |
| Start Page: | 869 |
| End Page: | 875 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10900-020-00955-0 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 33523409 |
| PMCID: | PMC9204610 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Source: Scopus |
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