title: The utilization of fluoride varnish and its determining factors among Taiwanese preschool children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Taiwanese government considers fluoride varnish to be a major component of preventive dental cares for preschool children. This study aimed to explore the extent of utilization of fluoride varnish and its determining factors among Taiwanese preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using preschool children under the age of 5 years as our participants, this study was conducted based on the 2008 Taiwan database of the Ministry of the Interior, linked with information gathered between 2006 and 2008 on preventive healthcare and health insurance from the Bureau of Health Promotion and the National Health Research Institute. A total of 949,023 preschool children (< 5 years old) were identified to meet the requirement for fluoride varnish services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of Taiwanese preschool children that used fluoride varnish was 34.85%.The probability that fluoride varnish would be utilized was higher among children with catastrophic illness/injury or relevant chronic illnesses than those without. In addition, the probability of children with disabilities using fluoride varnish was lower than that of nondisabled children. Finally, parent sex, parent age, urbanization level of residence, and parents' premium-based salary significantly affected the children's utilization probability of fluoride varnish.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to increase the utilization of fluoride varnish among preschool children in Taiwan in the future, target groups consisting of females, children < 3 years of age, and disabled children should be prioritized. Parental factors are also important in affecting the utilization of fluoride varnish in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Pei-Tseng
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.affiliation: Department of Long Term Care, National Quemoy University, Kinmen, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: wonhon@mail2000.com.tw.
authors.forename: Rhay-Hung
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Hygiene, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsun-Pi
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010150:Paint; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides
keywords: delivery of healthcare; dental care; oral health; pediatric dentistry; preventive dentistry