title: [Oral health and access to dental care services in relation to the Health Necessities Index: São Paulo, Brazil, 2008].
abstract: The Health Department of São Paulo, Brazil, has developed a Health Necessities Index (HNI) to identify priority areas for providing health assistance. In 2008, a survey of the status of oral health was conducted. The objective of this ecological study was to analyze the status of oral health in relation to the HNI. The variables, stratified by the age of 5, 12 and 15 years old were: percentage of individuals with difficulty of access to dental care services; DMFT and DMFS; prevalence of the need for tooth extraction and treatment of dental caries. Data were analyzed for the 25 Health Technical Supervision Units (HTS). The Statistical Covariance Test was used as well as the Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression model. A positive correlation was observed between high scores of the HNI and difficulty of access to services. In the HTS with high scores of HNI a higher incidence of dental caries was observed, a greater need for tooth extractions and low caries-free incidence. In order to improve health conditions of the population it is mandatory to prioritize actions in areas of social deprivation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontologia Social, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. srj@usp.br
authors.forename: Simone Rennó
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Junqueira
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Frias
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zilbovicius
authors.forename: Maria Ercilia de
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Araujo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003729:Dental Care; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D014504:Urban Health