Work

3.10-P11Racial inequalities in dental service utilisation amongst middle-aged Brazilian adults: a multilevel approach

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Aim: to investigate the differences between colour/race groups (White, Pardo [mixed ethnic ancestry] and Black) in the use of dental service in a national sample of 35 to 44-year-old adults in Brazil taking into consideration the role of individual-level and contextual-level characteristics. Methods: The final sample size was 6,031 individuals nested in the 27 Brazilian capitals. Dependent variables were the time since last dental visit (less than a year, or a year or more), reason for the last dental visit (prevention/check-up, pain or extraction, or treatment), and type of service used (public, or private). The main exploratory variable was self-reported colour/race (White, Pardo, or Black). Individual-level characteristics were sex, level of education, family income, satisfaction with teeth/mouth, self-reported need for treatment, self-reported dental pain in the last six months, presence of decayed teeth, filled teeth, and missing teeth. The contextual-level characteristics were colour/race composition, human development index, Gini coefficient, integration of oral health teams into the Family Health Programme, and dentist per population rate. Results: Considering differences between capitals and all individual characteristics, colour/race differences for the time since last dental visit were fully explained. The same occurred for differences between Blacks and Whites for visits due to pain or extraction, and due to treatment. However, after further consideration of contextual-level characteristics, Pardos were 23% and 21% more likely to visit the dentist due to pain or extraction, and due to treatment, respectively, compared to Whites; and Pardos and Blacks were 24% and 70%, respectively, more likely to visit the public dental service compared to Whites. Conclusions: Racial inequalities in dental service utilisation were evident for middle-aged adults in Brazil. While considering differences between capitals, the inclusion of both individual-level and contextual-level characteristics help to reduce the differences between groups, but these reductions were not great enough to fully explain the inequalities observed.

Source: European Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cky048.107

Authors: H Constante, G Tsakos, R Watt

Institution: University College London

Language: English

Topic: Dental Health and Care Utilization

Subfield: Periodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,181