Influence of self-perceived oral health and socioeconomic predictors on the utilization of dental care services by schoolchildren
Braz. oral res
;
25(2): 143-149, Mar.-Apr. 2011. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-583856
ABSTRACT
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 percent confidence interval). The prevalence of regular use of dental service was 47.8 percent. 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.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Oral Health
/
Dental Care for Children
/
Dental Caries
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. oral res
Journal subject:
Dentistry
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Federal University of Santa Maria/BR
/
University of São Paulo/BR
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS