Service Use and Perceived Need among an Aboriginal Population in Western Australia

Limited information is available about dental service use, perceived need and perceived oral health status among Aboriginal populations in Western Australia. This study collected information from a convenience sample of people attending the opening ceremony of the 2014 National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee celebrations in Perth, Western Australia.

People who visited the Dental Health Services display stall at the event completed a questionnaire on dental service use, perceived need and self-rated oral health domains.

Participants provided 145 usable questionnaires; 75% of the sample identified themselves as Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander of whom 45% had a dental visit less than 12 months ago; 33% had a check-up visit and 25% rated their oral health as fair or poor.

More Aboriginal respondents reported lower frequency of service use and asymptomatic visiting compared with non-Aboriginal respondents.