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Oral health literacy, sociodemographic, family, and clinical predictors of dental visits among Brazilian early adolescents
Author(s) -
Neves Érick Tássio Barbosa,
Lima Larissa Chaves Morais de,
Dutra Laio da Costa,
Gomes Monalisa Cesarino,
Siqueira Maria Betânia Lins Dantas,
Paiva Saul Martins,
Ferreira Fernanda Morais,
GranvilleGarcia Ana Flávia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12660
Subject(s) - medicine , poisson regression , health literacy , literacy , toothache , oral health , cross sectional study , demography , family medicine , dentistry , population , environmental health , health care , pathology , sociology , economics , economic growth
Background The prevalence of dental caries is high in adolescents worldwide, and a large percentage have never been to a dentist or have not had regular dental appointments. Aim To evaluate the influence of oral health literacy and sociodemographic, clinical, and family factors on dental visits among early adolescents. Design A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 740 12‐year‐old students in Campina Grande, Brazil. Students answered about their level of oral health literacy (BREALD‐30), levels of family adaptability and cohesion (FACES III), and visits to the dentist sometime in life. Dental caries experience was evaluated using Nyvad criteria. Robust Poisson regression for complex samples was performed. Results A higher level of oral health literacy (PR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01‐1.03), high social class (PR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.09‐1.50), higher mother's schooling (PR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.37‐1.83), family cohesion classified as enmeshed (PR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.19‐2.02) and connected (PR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02‐1.44), and the absence of toothache (PR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.01‐1.38) remained associated with having visited a dentist. Conclusions Oral health literacy and sociodemographic, family, and clinical factors were predictors of having visited a dentist among early adolescents.