Socioeconomic inequalities in the use of dental services in Brazil: an analysis of the 2019 National Health Survey

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of use of dental services in Brazil according to states and the Federal District and its relationship with socioeconomic variables and types of services, based on the 2019 National Health Survey. Methods: This is a cross-sectional population-based study using data from the 2019 National Health Survey, which included 88,531 participants aged 18 or older. We assessed variables related to the use of dental health services according to sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics through multivariate analysis, using a Poisson regression model with robust variance. Results: The use of dental services in the year prior to the interview was higher among adults (53.2%, confidence interval — 95%CI 52.5–53.9) than older adults (34.3%, 95%CI 33.2–34.4). The multivariate analysis revealed that the use of dental services was greater in people with better schooling (prevalence ratio — PR=2.02, 95%CI 1.87–2.18) and higher income (PR=1.54, 95%CI 1.45–1.64). States from the Southeast, Midwest, and South regions presented the highest percentages of individuals who visited a dentist in the previous year — between 49.0 and 57.6% of the population. Conclusion: Inequalities were found in the use of dental health services among the adult and older adult population, with regional differences; the use was higher among women, younger individuals, those with better schooling, higher income, healthier behaviors, better self-perceived oral health status, and who paid for their last dental treatment.

Factors associated with recent and regular non-use of dental services by students from a university in southeastern Brazil: a cross-sectional study

“…The prevalence of recent non-use of dental services among university students in the present study was of 19.5%, a finding lower than what has been observed in population-based epidemiological surveys. In the last epidemiological survey on dental health, SB Brasil 2010, the prevalence of non-use of dental health services in the last 2 years among young people aged 15 to 19 years old in the Southeast region of the country was of 70.2% [ 20 ]; in the 2019 National Health Survey, the non-use of dental services in the year prior to the interview by adults aged over 18 years, was at 46.8% [ 21 ]. However, it should be noted that these surveys, despite including a part of the young population, do not cover the specific age group selected in this study.…”

Utilização de serviços odontológicos por pacientes em tratamento oncológico

“…A frequência do uso de serviços odontológicos é bastante variável entre os grupos populacionais, sendo registrados desde valores próximos ao observado neste estudo (31,2%) 18 até valores mais altos (62,4%) 19 . O Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) constatou em 2019 uma prevalência de 49,4% da população brasileira maior que 18 anos em consulta com o cirurgião-dentista no último ano 20 .…”

“…Nesse contexto, merece destaque o papel da escolaridade. Esta pode ser entendida como um parâmetro que contém a condição cultural, intelectual e de instrução do indivíduo, o que de forma conjunta será responsável por determinar hábitos de vida e atitudes, inclusive aqueles relacionados com saúde e autocuidado 19 . Em relação à saúde bucal, a educação influencia a maneira como os indivíduos alcançam e mantêm a saúde bucal por meio da percepção da necessidade de cuidados odontológicos e do conhecimento sobre as melhores práticas de autocuidado com a saúde bucal 24 .…”

Associação entre práticas integrativas e complementares em saúde e uso de serviços odontológicos em idosos no Brasil: estudo transversal, 2019

“…Despite the recognized importance of oral health as part of people’s overall health and well-being, a large part of Brazilians do not use dental services. 1 Use of health services is the result of a series of complex causes, which relate to socio-demographic and economic issues as well as to morbidity profiles and the availability of health services. 2 Predisposing factors regarding health service use, such as beliefs, personal health practices, diet, exercise and self-care, can have an effect on the perceived need for care and consequently influence the pattern of service use.…”

“… 3 According to results from the 2019 National Health Survey ( Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - PNS), less than 30% of elderly people had seen a dentist in the year prior to the survey interview. 1 Oral health is essential for quality of life, whether for chewing and swallowing food, or for self-esteem and psychological well-being. 4 …”