Socioeconomic inequalities and 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 the states and its association with socioeconomic variables and types of services in the Brazilian Health Survey of 2019. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study using data from the Brazilian Health Survey of 2019, including 88,531 individuals with 18 years of age or more. Results: Dental services utilization in the year prior to the study was more frequent among adults (53.2%, 95% CI:52.5-53.9) than in older adults (34.3%, 95% CI: 33.2-34.4). The multivariate analysis revealed that the use of dental services was more in people with more schooling (PR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.87-2.18) and higher income (PR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.45-1.64). The prevalence of dental services utilization in the year prior to the survey was higher among participants of the southeast, south and Midwest regions, ranging between 49.0% and 57.6%. Conclusion: Inequalities in dental services utilization were common in adults and older adults, with important regional differences; women, younger participants, those with more schooling and higher income, people with better oral health-related behaviors, better self-perceived oral health and those who paid for their lasts dental consultation were more likely to have used dental services in the year prior to the study.