Self-rated oral health and associated factors in Brazilian elders.
OBJECTIVE
Self-rating provides a simple direct way of capturing perceptions of health. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of poor self-rated oral health among elders.


METHODS
National data from a cross-sectional population-based study with a multistage random sample of 4786 Brazilian older adults (aged 65-74) in 250 towns were analysed. Data collection included oral examinations (WHO 1997) and structured interviews at elderly households. The outcome was measured by a single five-point-response-scale question dichotomized into 'poor' (fair/poor/very poor) and 'good' (good/very good) self-rated oral health. Data analyses used Poisson regression models stratified by sex.


RESULTS
The prevalence of poor self-rated oral health was 46.6% (95% CI: 45.2-48%) in the whole sample, 50.3% (48-52.5) in men and 44.2% (42.4-46) in women. Higher prevalence ratios (PR) were found in elders reporting unfavourable dental appearance (PR = 2.31; 95% CI: 2.02-2.65), poor chewing ability (PR = 1.64; CI: 1.48-1.8) and dental pain (PR = 1.44; CI: 1.04-1.23) in adjusted analysis. Poor self-perception was also associated with being men, black, unfavourable socioeconomic circumstances, unfavourable clinical oral health and with not using or needing a dental prosthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment and understanding of self-rated oral health should take into account social factors, subjective and clinical oral symptoms.
Pattussi
Marcos Pascoal
MP
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil. mppattussi@unisinos.br
Peres
Karen Glazer
KG
Boing
Antonio Fernando
AF
Peres
Marco Aurélio
MA
da Costa
Juvenal Soares Dias
JS
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D009909:Oral Health; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data