Influence of self-perceived oral health and socioeconomic predictors on the utilization of dental care services by schoolchildren
The influence of socioeconomic factors and self-rated oral health on children's dental health assistance was assessed. This study followed a cross-sectional design, with a multistage random sample of 792 12-year-old schoolchildren from Santa Maria, a city in southern Brazil. A dental examination provided information on the prevalence of dental caries (DMFT index). Data about the use of dental service, socioeconomic status, and self-perceived oral health were collected by means of structured interviews. These associations were assessed using Poisson regression models (prevalence ratio; 95% confidence interval). The prevalence of regular use of dental service was 47.8%. Children from low socioeconomic backgrounds and those who rated their oral health as "poor" used the service less frequently. The distribution of the kind of oral healthcare assistance used (public/private) varied across socioeconomic groups. The better-off children were less likely to have used the public service. Clinical, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors were strong predictors for the utilization of dental care services by schoolchildren.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica - SBPqO
2011
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| Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1806-83242011000200008 |
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