Socioeconomic inequalities in the use of recent dental services among dentate older adults in Brazil
1
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Oral health impairment is disproportionately distributed across socioeconomic groups. Although Brazil offers dental care through its public health system, older adults, particularly those in lower socioeconomic positions, use dental services less frequently. Quantifying these inequalities is important for informing and improving public health policies aimed at reducing disparities. This study investigated the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in recent dental care use among dentate older adults (aged 60 and over) in Brazil.
METHODS:
This was a cross-sectional study using data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey. The dependent variable was recent use of dental care (within the past year), and socioeconomic position was measured by educational attainment. The magnitude of absolute and relative inequalities was assessed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Concentration Index (CI), respectively.
RESULTS:
Recent dental care use was reported by 46.3% of dentate older adults. Prevalence increased with higher educational levels, ranging from 20.6% among the least educated to 73.6% among the most educated. Absolute inequalities were substantial: the prevalence among those in the highest socioeconomic position was 56.8 percentage points higher than among those in the lowest. The Concentration Index (CI) was 0.366, indicating pronounced relative inequality favoring individuals with higher education.
CONCLUSIONS:
There are significant educational inequalities in dental care use among older adults in Brazil. Socioeconomic disparities in the use of dental services remain and should be systematically monitored, and their contributing factors investigated.
Oral health impairment is disproportionately distributed across socioeconomic groups. Although Brazil offers dental care through its public health system, older adults, particularly those in lower socioeconomic positions, use dental services less frequently. Quantifying these inequalities is important for informing and improving public health policies aimed at reducing disparities. This study investigated the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in recent dental care use among dentate older adults (aged 60 and over) in Brazil.
METHODS:
This was a cross-sectional study using data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey. The dependent variable was recent use of dental care (within the past year), and socioeconomic position was measured by educational attainment. The magnitude of absolute and relative inequalities was assessed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Concentration Index (CI), respectively.
RESULTS:
Recent dental care use was reported by 46.3% of dentate older adults. Prevalence increased with higher educational levels, ranging from 20.6% among the least educated to 73.6% among the most educated. Absolute inequalities were substantial: the prevalence among those in the highest socioeconomic position was 56.8 percentage points higher than among those in the lowest. The Concentration Index (CI) was 0.366, indicating pronounced relative inequality favoring individuals with higher education.
CONCLUSIONS:
There are significant educational inequalities in dental care use among older adults in Brazil. Socioeconomic disparities in the use of dental services remain and should be systematically monitored, and their contributing factors investigated.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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