ABSTRACT
Objetivos: Identificar los factores que influyen en la asistencia de los preescolares al servicio de dos módulos dentales públicos en Acapulco, Guerrero, e identificar las áreas de oportunidades para mejorar la atención dental. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal exploratorio en los alumnos de cuatro escuelas de nivel preescolar. Se aplicó un cuestionario auto administrado, los informantes fueron los padres o tutores de los preescolares. La variable resultado fue la asistencia de los preescolares a los servicios dentales públicos. Resultados: Se obtuvieron datos de 336 alumnos de nivel preescolar. Uno de cada cuatro preescolares asistió a los servicios dentales del centro de salud en los últimos 12 meses. La falta de dinero fue la principal razón reportada para no llevar a los escolares sin seguridad social al servicio dental. La asistencia a la misma escuela el ciclo escolar anterior y que los padres se hayan atendido en el módulo dental estuvieron asociados al hecho de llevar a los preescolares al servicio dental. Conclusiones: El contacto previo de los usuarios con los servicios dentales, en la escuela o en la atención curativa, son factores que incrementan la probabilidad de uso de los servicios dentales de los escolares en los centros de salud.
Aim: The present articles purports the aim of identifying factors influencing pre-school children's attendance to the services of two public dental modules in the city of Acapulco, Guerrero, as well as identifying opportunity areas in order to improve dental care. Materials and methods: The present study was of a cross-section and exploratory nature. It was conducted on four pre-grade schools. A self-administered questionnaire was applied. Informers for the aforementioned questionnaire were the children's parents or tutors. Result variable was attendance of pre-school children to public dental services. Results: Data from 336 pre-school children were collected. One out of four pre-school children had attended dental services of the health center in the last 12 months. Lack of funds was the main reason mentioned for not bringing uninsured children to dental services. The facts of attending the same school during the former school year as well as parents having received treatment at the dental module, were influencing factors in the attendance of these pre-school children to the dental services. Conclusions: Users' previous contact with dental services in the school or in a dental office were factors which increased the likelihood of dental services use of preschool children at the health centers.