Factors associated with the use of oral health care services among Canadian children and youth.
Health Rep
; 35(4): 15-26, 2024 Apr 17.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38630920
ABSTRACT
Background:
This study investigates the association between dental insurance, income, and dental care access for Canadian children and youth aged 1 to 17 years. It contributes to a baseline understanding of oral health care use before the implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Data andmethods:
This study used data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (n=47,347). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were employed to assess the association of dental insurance, adjusted family net income, and other sociodemographic factors on oral health care visits and cost-related avoidance of oral health care.Results:
A large percentage of children under the age of 5 had never visited a dentist (79.8% of 1-year-olds to 16.4% of 4-year-olds). Overall, 89.6% of Canadian children and youth aged 5 to 17 had visited a dental professional within the past 12 months 93.1% of those who were insured and 78.5% of those who were uninsured. Insured children and youth had a 4.5% cost-related avoidance of dental care, contrasting with 23.3% for uninsured children and youth. After adjustment for sociodemographic variables, children and youth with dental insurance were nearly three times more likely (odds ratio [OR] 2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.60 to 3.33) to have visited a dental professional in the past 12 months than uninsured children and youth. Having dental insurance (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.21) was protective against barriers to seeing a dental professional because of cost. There was a strong income gradient for both dental service outcomes.Interpretation:
The study emphasizes the significant association of dental insurance and access to oral health care for children and youth. It highlights a significant gap between insured and uninsured children and youth and points out the influence of sociodemographic and income factors on this disparity.Palabras clave
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Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Cobertura del Seguro
/
Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Health Rep
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article