Association Between Water Sanitation and Living Conditions and Dental Caries in Brazilian Schoolchildren

Abstract Objective: To analyze the association between water sanitation and living conditions and dental caries in Brazilian schoolchildren. Material and Methods: A list containing names of children enrolled in 18 urban public schools was obtained. Then, data registered by community health agents from the family health strategy were consulted, aiming to obtain information about socio-environmental variables such as house type, number of rooms in the house, water supply, water treatment, waste, feces and urine disposal. For sample calculation, 95% confidence level, 80% test power and 5% error rate were used A total of 199 5-year-old and 137 12-year-old schoolchildren participated in the research. For examinations, World Health Organization recommendations for epidemiological surveys of dental caries were followed. Results: For 5-year-old children, dental caries prevalence was related to municipality of origin, water supply system and sewage system. For 12-year-old children, untreated water and waste collection were related to higher dental caries rates. Conclusion: Dental caries was associated to house type and water sanitation.

Indicadores socioeconômicos e serviços odontológicos em uma região brasileira desfavorecida / Socioeconomic indicators and oral health services in an underprivileged area of Brazil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre proporção de exodontias, indicadores socioeconômicos e oferta de serviços odontológicos em uma região desfavorecida do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Um estudo ecológico foi realizado em 52 municípios do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os indicadores socioeconômicos utilizados foram os critérios de alocação de recursos financeiros destinados à saúde, os índices de desenvolvimento humano municipal, de Theil e de Gini e as condições de saneamento. Em relação à oferta de serviços de saúde bucal, foram considerados o número de habitantes, o número de cirurgiões-dentistas residentes no município, o número de dentistas que trabalhavam no serviço público e o número de equipes de saúde bucal. A utilização de serviços foi avaliada pelos indicadores de saúde bucal preconizados pelo Pacto da Atenção Básica e pelo número de procedimentos realizados na atenção primária. As 17 variáveis avaliadas foram agrupadas em componentes. Analisou-se a relação entre esses componentes fatoriais e a variável dependente, proporção de exodontias. RESULTADOS: As variáveis foram agrupadas em seis componentes (condições socioeconômicas, desigualdades sociais, indicadores do Pacto da Atenção Básica, número de procedimentos realizados, razão dentistas:população, cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família) que explicaram, no conjunto, 73,5% da variância total. As desigualdades na distribuição de renda (P = 0,031) e a cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família (P = 0,015) tiveram significativamente maior peso para explicar a diferença na proporção de exodontias realizadas nos municípios estudados. CONCLUSÕES: Os fatores socioeconômicos e de organização dos serviços de saúde bucal explicam grande parte da mutilação dentária nessa região.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between the proportion of tooth extractions, socioeconomic indicators, and the availability of oral health services in an underprivileged area of Brazil. METHODS: An ecological study was carried out in 52 municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The socioeconomic indicators employed were criteria for health care resources allocation, municipal human development index, Theil index, Gini coefficient, and sanitation conditions. Concerning the availability of oral health services, the following were considered: number of inhabitants, number of dental surgeons living in the city, number of dentists working in the public services, and number of municipal oral health care teams. The utilization of oral health services was evaluated using the indicators recommended by the Health Ministry's Basic Care Package (Pacto da Atencão Básica in Portuguese) and the number of procedures carried out in the primary care setting. The 17 variables assessed were grouped into factorial components, which were then analyzed in terms of their relationship with the dependent variable, tooth extractions. RESULTS: The following six components explained 73.5% of the overall variance: socioeconomic conditions, social inequality, Basic Care Package indicators, number of procedures carried out, ratio of dentists to inhabitants, and coverage of the Family Health Strategy. Inequalities in income distribution (P = 0.031) and coverage by the Family Health Strategy (P = 0.015) contributed significantly to explain the difference in the proportion of tooth extractions in the different municipalities under study. CONCLUSIONS: The dental loss observed in the region is largely explained by socioeconomic factors and aspects related to the organization of oral health services.