Recent Studies by F.J. Herkrath and Co-Authors Add New Data to Dentistry Findings (Contextual and individual factors associated with dental services…

Recent Studies by F.J. Herkrath and Co-Authors Add New Data to Dentistry Findings (Contextual and individual factors associated with dental services utilisation by Brazilian adults: A multilevel analysis)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Dentistry have been published. According to news originating from Amazonas, Brazil, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Inequalities in the utilisation of dental services in Brazil are remarkable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of contextual and individual factors with the utilisation of dental services by Brazilian adults using the Andersen's behavioural model."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research, "Individual-level data from 27,017 adults residents in the State capitals who were interviewed in the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey were pooled with contextual city-level data. The outcomes were non-utilisation of dental services and last dental visit over 12 months ago. Individual predisposing variables were age, sex, race/skin colour, schooling and social network. Individual enabling variables included income, health insurance and registration in primary health care. Individual need variables were self-perceived dental health and self-reported missing teeth. Multilevel logistic regression models were performed to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of the association of contextual and individual predisposing, enabling and need-related variables with dental services outcomes. Predisposing (OR=0.89; 95% CI 0.81-0.97) and enabling (OR=0.90; 95% CI 0.85-0.96) contextual factors were associated with non-utilisation of dental services. Individual predisposing (sex, race/skin colour, schooling), enabling (income, health insurance) and need (self-perceived oral health, missing teeth) were associated with non-utilisation of dental services and last dental visit over 12 months ago. The latter was also associated with other individual predisposing (age, social network) and need (eating difficulties due to oral problems) characteristics. Individual and contextual determinants influenced dental services utilisation in Brazilian adults."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "These factors should be on the policy agenda and considered in the organisation of health services aiming to reduce oral health inequalities related to access and utilisation of dental services."

For more information on this research see: Contextual and individual factors associated with dental services utilisation by Brazilian adults: A multilevel analysis. Plos One, 2018;13(2):e0192771. (Public Library of Science - www.plos.org; Plos One - www.plosone.org)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from F.J. Herkrath, Escola Superior de Ciencias da Saude, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Additional authors for this research include M.V. Vettore and G.L Werneck.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192771. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Keywords for this news article include: Brazil, Amazonas, Dentistry, South America, Health Insurance, Health and Medicine.

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