Date of Conferral

12-23-2025

Date of Award

December 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Dr. Michael Schwab

Abstract

The oral health status of Syrian refugees has been impacted by war and displacement since the 2011 civil war. To date, limited in-depth knowledge is available on oral health experiences of resettled Syrian refugees in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore lived oral health experiences of resettled Syrian refugees before, during, and after the 2011 Syrian civil war. The health belief model (HBM) and theory of planned behavior (TPB) were theoretical frameworks for this phenomenological inquiry. The study was guided by semi-structured phone interviews with a purposeful sample of 11 Syrian refugees over the age of 18 years. Thematic analysis was used to answer three research questions. This study examined how oral health knowledge, attitudes and perceptions, along with social and cultural beliefs and practices influence oral health behaviors and outcomes. Results highlight oral health behavior patterns of a small subset of the Syrian refugee population, the barriers encountered when accessing oral health services during periods of transition (war, displacement, and resettlement), and the positive shift in attitudes and behaviors post-resettlement in the U.S. leading to implications for positive social change. Findings highlight a need for oral health screenings for Syrian refugees with culturally-appropriate assistance for navigating oral healthcare in the United States. Recommendations include accessible and affordable oral healthcare programs and services for resettled Syrian refugees. Future research should focus on lived oral health experiences of refugees with similar backgrounds to inform comprehensive oral health policies for all refugees, regardless of their country of origin.

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