[Socioeconomic inequalities in oral health service utilization any time in their lives for Mexican schoolchildren from 6 to 12 years old].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and the existence of socioeconomic inequalities in dental health service utilization (DHSU) any time in the life of Mexican schoolchildren aged 6-12 years of Pachuca Hidalgo, Mexico.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional study in 1,404 school children 6-12 years of age from 14 public schools in the city of Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Questionnaires were distributed to determine socioeconomic position variables (SEP). The dependent variable was DHSU once in life (0 = No, 1 = Yes). The analysis was performed in Stata 9 using chi-square tests.


RESULTS
The mean age was 8.97 ± 1.99 years, 50.1% were boys. The prevalence of DHSU any time in life was 71.4%. The DHSU percentage increased according increasing age (p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in percentages of USSB through SEP variables: health insurance, car ownership in the home, dwelling and household characteristics, a better level of SEP increased prevalence of DHSU. Although in the mother's schooling no differences were observed (p > 0.05), father's schooling was associated (p < 0.05) inversely to expectations.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study demonstrate that the prevalence of DHSU was not 100%; 28.6% of children have never had contact with a dentist. We identified certain indicator variables of SEP associated with DHSU, indicating the existence of inequalities in this oral health indicator.
Área Académica de Odontología, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo.
Sandra Isabel
SI
Jiménez-Gayosso
Área Académica de Odontología, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo.
Carlo Eduardo
CE
Medina-Solís
Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Odontología, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Edo. de México.
Edith
E
Lara-Carrillo
Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Odontología, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Edo. de México.
Rogelio José
RJ
Scougal-Vilchis
Área Académica de Odontología, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo.
Rubén
R
de la Rosa-Santillana
Área Académica de Odontología, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo.
Sonia
S
Márquez-Rodríguez
Área Académica de Odontología, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo.
Martha
M
Mendoza-Rodríguez
Área Académica de Odontología, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo.
José de Jesús
Jde J
Navarrete-Hernández
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires