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Experience of socioeconomic‐related inequality in dental care utilization among Thai elderly under universal coverage
Author(s) -
Somkotra Tewarit
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2012.00895.x
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , medicine , inequality , dental care , logistic regression , social inequality , environmental health , gerontology , multivariate analysis , population , family medicine , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Aim: To assess the socioeconomic‐related inequality in dental care utilization among Thai elderly and to determine factors associated with the observed inequality after the country achieved universal coverage. Methods: The data were taken from the nationally representative Thailand Health & Welfare Survey 2007. Data of 10 096 Thai elderly (aged over 60 years) were selected. Descriptive analyses of the features of dental care utilization among Thai elderly were carried out, in addition to the concentration index (C index ) being used to quantify the extent of socioeconomic‐related inequality in dental care utilization. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with inequality in dental care. Results: Socioeconomic‐related inequality in dental care utilization among Thai elderly was shown. Also, utilization was more concentrated among wealthier older adults, as shown by the positive value of C index (equals 0.244). The poor elderly, however, were more likely to utilize dental care at public facilities, particularly primary care facilities. Multivariate analysis showed that certain demographic, socioeconomic and geographic characteristics were particularly associated with poor–rich differences in dental care utilization among Thai elderly. Conclusions: Although socioeconomic‐related inequality in dental care utilization among Thai elderly exists, the pro‐poor utilization at public facilities, particularly primary care facilities, substantiates the concerted effort to reducing inequality in dental care utilization for Thai elderly. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 298–306 .