Socioeconomic status and family functioning influence oral health literacy among adolescents

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate socio-demographic, family and behavioral factors associated with oral health literacy (OHL) in adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data. The adolescents answered validated instruments on family cohesion and adaptability (family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale), drug use (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test), type of dental service used for last appointment and OHL (Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Oral Health Literacy in Dentistry). Two dentists were trained to evaluate OHL (K = 0.87–0.88). Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by Poisson regression analysis (α = 5%). A directed acyclic graph was used to select independent variables in the study. RESULTS: The following variables remained associated with better OHL: high mother’s schooling level (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.03–1.12), high income (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01–1.09), white ethnicity/skin color (RR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01–1.10), married parents (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01–1.09), “enmeshed” family cohesion (RR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.12–1.30), “structured” (RR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.01–1.12) or “rigid” (RR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.04–1.19) family adaptability, having more than five residents in the home (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01–1.14) and having used a private dental service during the last appointment (RR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.03–1.13). CONCLUSION: Family functioning and socio-demographic factors influence the level of oral health literacy among adolescents.

Association between oral health literacy and dental outcomes among users of primary healthcare services

“…A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that income, education, and self-rated oral health are important predictors of OHL across different populations. [29][30][31] The associations between tooth loss, education, and self-rated oral health have also been largely documented in the literature. [32][33][34][35] Similar to our findings, previous studies indicate that income and self-rated oral health are important predictors of dental service utilization.…”

Sociocultural, health knowledge, and health literacy among children ages 9–10 years in Thailand

“…It was similar with the result from other studies on HL. [ 23 26 27 28 ] It could be explained that children in sound economic status's families, parents could spend more time teaching or provide guidance as well as equipment (smart phone/laptop/internet) to access to media. Therefore, they had better access to health information, of which improve understanding, apprising ability as well as decision to perform health actions.…”

Characteristics of oral health literacy in Senegal: A cross-sectional study among women in the Department of Pikine

“…Such findings corroborate the literature's report of a significant relationship between the family socioeconomic status and its members' OHL. 12 Yet most inhabitants of Pikine and their extended families are highly impacted by insecurity unlike the nuclear households, 25 the inverse relationship between household size and OHL is also within that context. Unlike this finding, Lopes et al, in a study about Brazilian adolescents, have reported a higher OHL average score of the latter in families of more than five members, which is due to information sharing and the mutual influence on health.…”

“…11 According to the literature, certain socioeconomic characteristics including education, income and social cohesion determine the OHL level. 12,13 In Senegal, a 2015 STEP survey had revealed that the prevalence of dental caries and gingivitis among women is 79.7% and 21.8%, respectively. 14 The care supply is low and unequal with one dentist per 27,540 inhabitants where 76.6% of whom are in the country's capital, Dakar.…”