Influencia del gradiente social sobre la salud bucal de mujeres trabajadoras formales / Influence of social gradient on the oral health of formally employed women / Influência do gradiente social na saúde bucal de mulheres trabalhadoras formais

Introducción: Las patologías bucales se asocian con las condiciones sociales, materiales y el nivel socioeconómico desfavorables. La salud bucal de las mujeres se ve afectada por aspectos sociales, que marcan inequidades en salud, si se compara con los hombres. Objetivo: Evaluar la influencia del gradiente social sobre la salud bucal de mujeres trabajadoras de una universidad de Santander, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal que involucró a 84 mujeres trabajadoras. Se utilizaron variables sociodemográficas, de condición de salud bucal (presencia de caries dental, enfermedad periodontal y edentulismo) y posición social. Se estableció una relación entre estas. Para ello, se aplicaron las pruebas Chi cuadrado o Exacto de Fisher, t de Student o test de rangos de Wilcoxon, con una significancia α≤0,05. Resultados: Se evidenció una prevalencia de caries dental de un 85,7%, enfermedad periodontal de un 79,8%, y prevalencia de edentulismo de un 40,5%; los factores sociales que se presentaron con mayor frecuencia mostrando alguna relación con las condiciones bucales fueron edad, etnia, estado civil, nivel educativo, la labor que realiza diariamente, estrato socioeconómico, la responsabilidad económica dentro del hogar. Conclusión: El gradiente social no registró diferencias estadísticamente significativas al analizarlo con las patologías orales; sin embargo, se estableció que las mujeres que se ubicaron en la posición social alta tenían menos carga de enfermedades bucales; mientras que las mujeres que se encontraban en la posición social baja tenían mayor prevalencia de caries dental, enfermedad periodontal y edentulismo.

Introduction: Oral diseases are associated with unfavorable social, material, and socioeconomic conditions. Women's oral health is affected by social aspects, which increase health inequalities when compared to men. Objetive: To evaluate the social gradient's influence on the oral health of working women at a university in Santander, Colombia. Materials and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional observational cross-sectional study involving 84 working women. Sociodemographic variables, oral health condition variables (presence of dental caries, periodontal disease, and edentulism), and social status variables were used to establish relationships. Chi-square test or Fisher's Exact test, Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank test were used, with a significance α≤0.05. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 85.7%, periodontal disease 79.8%, and edentulism 40.5%. Age, ethnicity, marital status, educational level, work carried out daily, socioeconomic status, and responsibility for household finances were the social factors most frequently related to oral conditions. Conclusions: The social gradient did not register statistically significant differences when analyzed with oral diseases. However, it was established that women with a high social status had a lower burden of oral diseases, while women with a low social status had a higher prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease, and edentulism.

Introdução: As patologias bucais estão associadas a condições sociais, materiais e socioeconômicas desfavoráveis. A saúde bucal das mulheres é afetada por aspectos sociais, que marcam as iniquidades em saúde, quando comparadas aos homens. Objetivo: Avaliar a influência do gradiente social na saúde bucal de mulheres trabalhadoras de uma universidade em Santander, Colômbia. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo observacional analítico transversal envolvendo 84 mulheres trabalhadoras. Foram utilizadas variáveis sociodemográficas, condição de saúde bucal (presença de cárie dentária, doença periodontal e edentulismo) e posição social. Estabeleceu-se uma relação entre eles. Para isso, foram aplicados os testes Qui-quadrado ou Exato de Fisher, Teste T de Student ou teste de faixas de Wilcoxon, com significância de α≤0,05. Resultados: Evidenciou-se prevalência de cárie dentária de 85,7%, doença periodontal de 79,8% e prevalência de edentulismo de 40,5%; os fatores sociais que apareceram com maior frequência, mostrando alguma relação com as condições bucais, foram idade, etnia, estado civil, escolaridade, trabalho diário, nível socioeconômico, responsabilidade econômica dentro do lar. Conclusões: O gradiente social não registrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas ao analisá-lo com patologias bucais; no entanto, verificou-se que as mulheres que se encontravam em posição social elevada apresentavam menor carga de doenças bucais; enquanto as mulheres que estavam em posição social baixa apresentaram maior prevalência de cárie dentária, doença periodontal e edentulismo.

Determinantes sociales como factores contextuales de la obesidad: construcción de significado y valoración del estado nutricional según nivel socioeconómico

RESUMEN El objetivo fue explorar la influencia del nivel socioeconómico (NSE), como determinante estructural de la salud, sobre la construcción de significados y valor atribuidos a la obesidad. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a usuarios de programas de obesidad de dos centros de salud, procurando diferencias en el NSE del público objetivo. A partir del análisis de contenido temático, los resultados se organizaron en cuatro categorías construidas inductivamente: 1) significado atribuido de vivir con obesidad, 2) conciencia manifiesta del impacto de la obesidad sobre la propia salud, 3) búsqueda vivida de alternativas ante la obesidad y 4) origen atribuido de la obesidad. Se observó que la obesidad, entendida como categoría médica, varió según NSE tanto en significado como en la forma en que es problematizada, tomando sentidos incluso contradictorios. El salutismo se incorporó de manera heterogénea entre distintos grupos socioeconómicos, reproduciéndose como estilo de vida. Así, el NSE, entrelazado con otros determinantes sociales estructurales de la salud, pudo influir no sólo en los resultados de salud de manera 'causal', sino también -a través de mecanismos donde participaron contextualmente- en la definición del estado de salud y en el valor atribuido a la salud. Considerar este efecto diferencial de los determinantes sociales de la salud en la obesidad, sería importante para el logro de intervenciones efectivas en salud.

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to explore the influence of socio-economic status (SES), as a structural social determinant of health, in the construction of the meaning and value attached to obesity. To do so, we conducted semi-structured interviews with obesity care users from two health centres, targeting socio-economic differences amongst participants. Using thematic content analysis, the findings were organised into four inductively constructed categories, labelled as: 1) the meaning attached to suffering from obesity; 2) awareness of the impact of obesity on one's health; 3) the search for alternatives while being obese; 4) attributed origin of obesity. Obesity was understood as a medical category, varied in meaning as well as in the way it was problematized depending on SES, acquiring contradictory meanings. Healthism is incorporated in a heterogeneous way among different socioeconomic groups, reproduced via specific lifestyles. Thus, SES, intertwined with other structural social determinants of health, was not only a 'cause' of the outcome but also contextually in the mechanisms through which health status and the value of health were defined. Considering this differential effect of social determinants of health would be important in designing appropriate health interventions.

Bases teórico-conceptuales para el análisis de inequidades sociales en salud: una discusión / Theoretical Implications for the Analysis of Social Health Inequalities: A Discussion

RESUMEN Las Inequidades Sociales en Salud (ISS) continúan representando un gran reto para la salud pública en los diferentes países del mundo. Por su parte, el estudio, análisis y generación de conocimiento en esta materia ha sido reconocida como prioritaria para la Organización Mundial de la Salud desde 1991. La investigación de las ISS debe basarse en fundamentos teóricos y conceptuales sólidos, pues son estos las que guiarán las decisiones metodológicas en términos de diseño de investigaciones, formulación de intervenciones y políticas públicas en salud. En Latinoamérica, los estudios realizados se han basado primordialmente en experiencias que se han llevado a cabo en países industrializados. Esto ha fomentado que el análisis de las ISS reproduzca posturas teóricas y metodologías, sin necesariamente presentar una perspectiva crítica de los posibles estratificadores sociales que aproximan de la mejor forma los determinantes sociales de la salud en los contextos particulares. Por esta razón, se expone que las aproximaciones teórico-metodológicas deben ajustarse a los contextos específicos de los países; que la estratificación social de la salud debe ser evaluada de forma prioritaria; que los determinantes de la salud individuales y estructurales deben ser considerados dentro de las mediciones; y que la justificación teórica de las decisiones metodológicas realizadas en los estudios y las medidas seleccionadas deben ser explícitas y responder a hipótesis concretas. Esto con el fin de proveer un análisis crítico y herramientas útiles tanto para la investigación como para la toma de decisiones en salud. Este estudio inicia con una síntesis de los principales antecedentes históricos que han permitido la evolución del concepto de ISS. Seguidamente, se presentan los principales conceptos subyacentes relativos a la definición de ISS (determinantes sociales, equidad, justicia, estratificación y gradiente social en salud) y cómo estos deben guiar las decisiones prácticas y metodológicas. Finalmente, se concluye con algunas recomendaciones para la generación de esta evidencia científica para Latinoamérica.

ABSTRACT Social health inequalities (or inequities) continue to represent a great challenge for public health research worldwide. Since 1991, the World Health Organization established that the study and analysis of health inequalities represented a priority for all countries. To better guide methodological and practical implications of health inequalities, research on this topic should present a solid theoretical model, able to impact future public health policies. Previous studies of health inequalities in Latin America are often inspired from abroad experiences, encouraging the reproduction of mainly European theoretical positions and methodologies. However, especially when it comes to this topic, it is known the important role of the social context and culture, playing an important role in promoting differences in health outcomes. From this perspective, to operationalize the different social determinants in health, a critical perspective and thoughtful analysis of the context is mandatory. In order to provide a critical analysis and useful tools for both research and health decision making, we recommend that the theoretical and methodological approaches used in social health inequalities research must be well adapted to the specific contexts; that health social stratification must be assessed as a priority; that individual and the wider health determinants must be well characterized; and that the theoretical justification of the methodological decisions made in the studies and the selected measures must be explicit and should answer specific hypotheses. This research provides a brief historical background, to share the basis for the conceptual evolution of social health inequalities; the main underlying concepts related to the definition of health inequalities (social determinants, equity, justice, stratification and social gradient in health); and some recommendations for the future perspectives of health inequalities research in Latin America.

Personal vis-a-vis social responsibility for disparities in health status: An issue of justice.

Health inequities are disparities which can be avoided through rational actions on the part of policymakers. Such inequalities are unnecessary and unjust and may exist between and within nations, societies, and population groups. Social determinants such as wealth, income, occupation, education, gender, and racial/ethnic groups are the principal drivers of this inequality since they determine the health risks and preventive behaviors, access to, and affordability of health care. Within this framework, there is a debate on assigning a personal responsibility factor over and above societal responsibility to issues of ill health. One school of philosophy argues that when individuals are worse-off than others for no fault of their own, it is unjust, as opposed to health disparities that arise due to avoidable personal choices such as smoking and drug addiction for which there should (can) be a personal responsibility. Opposing thoughts have pointed out that the relative socioeconomic position of an individual dictates how his/her life may progress from education to working conditions and aging, susceptibility to diseases and infirmity, and the consequences thereof. The existence of a social gradient in health outcomes across populations throughout the world is a testimony to this truth. It has been emphasized that assuming personal responsibility for health in public policy-making can only have a peripheral place. Instead, the concept of individual responsibility should be promoted as a positive concept of enabling people to gain control over the determinants of health through conscious, informed, and healthy choices.

Gradiente social, envejecimiento y diagnóstico tardío del cáncer oral / Social gradient, aging and delayed diagnosis of oral cancer

Desde la perspectiva de la salud pública se requiere abordar con mayor interés los problemas de salud bucal y la identificación de sus principales determinantes. Una de estas enfermedades, es el cáncer oral. Se realizó una revisión narrativa de literatura incorporando algunos elementos críticos y de opinión. Se destaca cómo las desigualdades en salud oral son aún poco comprendidas, en especial las relacionadas con el cáncer oral. El cáncer oral se caracteriza principalmente por ser acumulativo y más prevalente en adultos mayores. Esta población en países en vías de desarrollo se encuentra en desventaja social por la futura transición demográfica, el gradiente social y las deficiencias en la detección temprana, temas que son abordados en esta revisión. Es de vital importancia comprender el diagnóstico tardío del cáncer oral desde los determinantes sociales con el objetivo de fortalecer la política pública que se teje alrededor del cáncer.

A public health-based perspective is required to approach, with greater interest, both oral health problems and the identification of their main determinant factors. One of such problems is oral cancer. In this study, a narrative literature review was conducted while including some elements of critique and opinion. We highlight the fact that inequalities in oral health are yet to be completely understood, especially those related to oral cancer. The main characteristics of oral cancer are its accumulative nature and its prevalence in the elderly. In developing countries, this population is at social disadvantage, mainly because of the future demographic transition, the social gradient and a failure to detect the condition early. This review approaches these topics. Accordingly, it is very important to understand the causes of oral cancer's late diagnosis in terms of its social determinants in order to strengthen the public policies regarding cancer in general.

Social determinants of cardiovascular disease outcomes in Indians.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death and disability in both developed and developing countries. In developed countries socio-economic mortality differentials have been studied extensively showing that the low socio-economic group suffers the highest mortality. As the epidemiological transition is taking place against a background of economic globalization, CVD risk factors among the urban poor and middle class are rapidly increasing in India. Recent evidences from India also suggest reversal of social gradient with excess burden of CVD morbidity in the low socio-economic group. Understanding the social determinants of environmental and behavioural exposures, in determining the risk factors for cardiovascular disease is an important challenge for public health professionals as well as communities. Socio-economic disadvantage is not simply a proxy for poor cardiovascular risk factor status, but also an indication of the likely trajectory that an individual or a community may follow in the course of their life. The paucity of intervention research seeking to address the role of social determinants in shaping lifestyle practices among individuals in culturally and socially diverse population groups within India is definitely a measure of inadequacy in public health research. This review article provides an overview of the role of social determinants of CVD and its possible conceptual pathways with special focus on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) outcomes among Indians.