title: Barriers to dental visits in Belgium: a secondary analysis of the 2004 National Health Interview Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to identify barriers to annual dental visits in the Belgian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected through the 2004 National Health Interview Survey in Belgium. Only respondents aged 15 years and older with complete information on dental consultations and the independent variables (n = 5940) were considered in this analysis. The associations between the lack of dental visits during the 12 months preceding the survey and covariates of interest were examined using a multivariable logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost one-half of the respondents (49.7 percent) did not visit a dentist in the 12 months prior to the survey. Region of residence was significantly the common variable for the three age categories. In the 15- to 34-year-old category, males and two-person households were significantly less likely to report a dental visit during the 12 months preceding the survey. For the 35- to 54-year-old category, a low level of education was the covariate associated with the lack of dental visit. In the 55 years or older category, the factors associated with the lack of a dental visit in the 12 months prior to the survey were: male gender, low level of education, low household income, low weekly alcohol consumption, current smoker, and body mass index of ≥ 25 mg/kg(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Barriers to dental visits in Belgium differ among age groups and are linked to personal and environmental factors. The findings confirm the existence of social health inequalities in dental visits among Belgian people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Rue de l'Espinay, Quebec, Canada. pascaline.kengne-talla.1@ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Pascaline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kengne Talla
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dramaix
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leveque
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult