Factors related to dental caries in adolescents in southeastern Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
Identify the experience of dental caries among adolescents associated to work, self-care, social life and access to healthcare services.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was carried out with 60 adolescents aged 15 and 16 years in a city in southeastern Brazil. The data were collected through a structured interview and clinical exam for dental caries carried out by a single, duly calibrated examiner (Kappa=0.8 to 0.9). The relationships between the dependent variable (experience of dental caries) and independent variables (work, self-care, social life and access to healthcare services) was determined using bivariate (chi square test, p<0.10) and multivariate analysis (p<0.25).


RESULTS
Eighty percent had two or more teeth with caries (95% CI: 70.0-90.0). Mean DMFT was 4.72 (± 3.55) and DMFS was 8.07 (± 7.46). When the experience of caries was related to the independent variables, only access to healthcare services achieved statistical significance. Individuals with greater access had a threefold greater chance of belonging to the group with a lesser experience with caries, PR=3.2 (90% CI 1.07-9.78).


CONCLUSIONS
All interviewees reported seeking care in the private system when requiring dental assistance. Access to healthcare (declared as essentially private) was associated to dental caries.
Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
E T
ET
Pitanga Fernandes
A M
AM
Duarte Vargas
A C
AC
Oliveira
M A
MA
Camargo da Rosa
S
S
Dutra Lucas
E
E
Ferreira E Ferreira
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population