Racial and ethnic disparities in utilization of dental services among children in Iowa: the Latino experience.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to understand the role of Latino acculturation in dental care utilization in Iowa children.


METHODS
We used logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with having a previous-year dental check-up with 2005 Iowa Child and Family Household Health Survey data. We constructed models to examine the association with race/ethnicity and used chosen interview language to measure Latino acculturation.


RESULTS
After we controlled for several factors, having a regular dental care source, having a dental need, dental insurance status, family income, children's dental health rating, children's age, and brushing habits were associated with having a previous-year dental check-up. Race/ethnicity was indirectly associated with use of dental services through other related factors with significant differences for less-acculturated Latinos.


CONCLUSIONS
Policymakers and health planners should implement strategies to address individual, community, and system factors affecting racial/ethnic minorities. A regular source of dental care for Latino children that will enhance their access to services should be ensured. Ignoring the needs of the fastest growing segment of children with the poorest oral health and the least access to care will lead to future increase of oral diseases in this population.
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA. avalencia@heartlandalliance.org
Alejandra
A
Valencia
Peter
P
Damiano
Fang
F
Qian
John J
JJ
Warren
Karin
K
Weber-Gasparoni
Michael
M
Jones
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data