Work

The Role of Public Oral Health Services and Socioeconomic Factors in Oral Cancer Mortality in Brazil

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the provision of oral health services in Primary Healthcare with mortality due to oral cancer in Brazil. METHODS: This ecological study was conducted across 1105 Brazilian municipalities, encompassing 11,412 oral health teams (OHTs). The outcome variable was the oral cancer mortality rate, standardized by age and sex. Socioeconomic factors and variables related to the oral health services provided by municipal OHTs were considered explanatory variables. We employed multilevel Poisson regression models with random effects at the municipal level to assess the association between oral cancer mortality rates and explanatory variables. RESULTS: At the municipal level, oral cancer mortality was negatively associated with higher human and social development and greater income inequality but positively linked to higher rates of population aging and greater coverage of primary and oral healthcare services. At the OHT level, mortality reduction was observed among those who received specialized support and had greater availability of consultations. Active case-finding for cancerous lesions and care monitoring were also linked to lower mortality. Conversely, the identification of high-risk vulnerable patients by these teams was associated with higher mortality. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that oral cancer mortality in Brazilian municipalities is influenced by socioeconomic factors and the availability of oral health services.

Source: Journal of Public Health Dentistry

DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12676

Authors: José Mário Nunes da Silva, Maria Eduarda Macedo Vila‐Castro, Antônio Borges Nunes‐Neto, Fabrício Dos Santos Menezes

Institutions: Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Language: English

Topic: Global Cancer Incidence and Screening

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,570