title: Socioeconomic and family influences on dental treatment needs among Brazilian underprivileged schoolchildren participating in a dental health program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to compare the socioeconomic and family characteristics of underprivileged schoolchildren with and without curative dental needs participating in a dental health program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1411 of 8-to-10 year-old Brazilian schoolchildren was examined and two sample groups were included in the cross-sectional study: 544 presented curative dental needs and the other 867 schoolchildren were without curative dental needs. The schoolchildren were examined for the presence of caries lesions using the DMFT index and their parents were asked to answer questions about socioenvironmental characteristics of their families. Logistic regression models were adjusted estimating the Odds Ratios (OR), their 95% confidence intervals (CI), and significance levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for potential confounders, it was found that families earning more than one Brazilian minimum wage, having fewer than four residents in the house, families living in homes owned by them, and children living with both biological parents were protective factors for the presence of dental caries, and consequently, curative dental needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic status and family structure influences the curative dental needs of children from underprivileged communities. In this sense, dental health programs should plan and implement strategic efforts to reduce inequities in oral health status and access to oral health services of vulnerable schoolchildren and their families.
authors.forename: Cristina Martins
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lisboa
authors.forename: Janice Simpson
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Glaucia Maria Bovi
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ambrosano
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Marcelo de Castro
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Meneghim
authors.forename: Karine Laura
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cortellazzi
authors.forename: Fabiana Lima
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, P,O, BOX 52, 13414-903 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. mialhe@fop.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Fábio Luiz
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Mialhe
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations; D010067:Ownership; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011203:Poverty; D011632:Public Assistance; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D035862:Vulnerable Populations