Objective:

To determine the relationship between oral health and the presence of poverty in african descent of Tierra Baja, Manzanillo and Boquilla, Cartagena, Colombia.

Methods:

Study conducted in 240 adults selected convenience in the home visit. The first descriptive stage asses sociodemographic variables, presence of poverty, oral health condition, oral health habits and other nocuous. In the second analytical stage of cross-section, the poverty classified as objective, subjective and general were the independent variables while the oral health condition and oral habits were the dependent variables. There was calibration of examiners, for clinical assessment. The data were analyzed from frequencies and proportions and odds ratio by bivariate logistic regression.

Results:

76,7 % of participants perceived poor and 89,2 % had their Dissatisfied Basic Needs (objective poverty); 65,8 % were classified as general poor people. There were associations between objective and subjective poverty and inadequate oral health condition (OR: 2.17 and 1.8 respectively) and among households with general poverty and frequency of brushing (OR: 2.18), toothbrush replacement (OR: 2,3) and habit of bruxism (OR: 2,4).

Conclusions:

Poverty has an adverse influence in oral health in vulnerable Afro-descendants communities. It is demonstrated the necessity of effective interventions in the social environment.

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