Social capital and dental service use in older Brazilians.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of dental services use and its association with social capital among Brazilian older adults. BACKGROUND: Health inequities can be explained by the social determinants of health, which are the social, environmental, cultural and behavioural factors that directly or indirectly affect people's health. Among these determinants is social capital, that seem to affect health behaviours, such as use of dental services among older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Longitudinal Study of the Health of the Brazilian Elderly, nationally representative of people aged 50 years or older. The baseline survey was carried out between 2015 and 2016, using structured questionnaires. The dependent variable was use of dental services in the last year. The main exposure variable was social capital, assessed through two dimensions: structural and cognitive. The covariates used were sex, skin colour, age, education, wealth, need for dental treatment, self-perception of oral health, tooth loss, type of dental services used, reason for dental care, smoking and alcohol consumption. Descriptive analyses and Poisson regression modelling were used. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 9323 individuals. The prevalence of dental services use was 32.6% (95% CI: 30.7-34.5). No associations were found between social capital and the use of dental services. CONCLUSION: This study did not find an association between structural and cognitive social capital and dental services use in Brazilian older adults. Further researches using instruments with different assessments of social capital are needed.

Social capital and self-reported oral health at baseline of the brazilian longitudinal study of aging.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the association between the structural and cognitive dimensions of social capital and self-reported oral health. METHODS: This study conducted individual assessments of 9,365 individuals aged 50 years or older from Brazil. Four individual variables based on structural and cognitive dimensions of social capital were assessed. We used hierarchical Poisson regression models to estimate the prevalence ratio of self-reported oral health with individual structural and cognitive social capital variables adjusted for associated factors. RESULTS: Cognitive social capital was associated with self-reported oral health. Individuals who reported lack of neighbourhood trust and not having friends presented 14% (RP: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.07-1.21) and 9% (RP: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01-1.19), respectively, higher prevalence of poor self-reported oral health, relative to those who trust in their neighbourhood and reported having friends. CONCLUSION: The cognitive dimension of social capital may be linked with self-reported oral health. Therefore, social capital can be stimulated in the context of social policies as its encouragement can be an efficient tool for improving individuals' health and, consequently, the oral health of the older people.

Baixa cobertura de saúde bucal: como potencializar o cuidado? / Low oral health coverage: how to improve care? / Un informe de experiencia del proyecto de extensión de cuidado dental vinculado al sistema único de salud de Brasil

Objetivo:Este estudo trata-se de um relato de experiência acerca de um programa da prefeitura da cidade de Santa Maria, sul do Brasil, vinculado à um projeto de extensão denominado Sorria Santa Maria que teve seu início em 2017 e permanece em andamento. Nosso objetivo com isso foi, além de contribui com os usuários que têm dificuldade em acessar os atendimentos odontológicos na atenção básica, promover e demonstrar as práticas em saúde coletiva, construídas em diferentes processos de trabalho e estreitamente ligadas a estruturas da sociedade.Relato de experiência:O programa destina-se aos usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde do município que não conseguem acessar as Unidades Básicas de Saúde, devido à baixa cobertura de saúde bucal municipal e às funções profissionais exercidas durante horário comercial pelos usuários. Os agendamentos são realizados segundo uma lista de espera com o contato de pacientes que manifestaram desejo de uma avaliação odontológica. Nas consultas, realiza-se então acolhimento, avaliação e atendimento destes pacientes até a conclusão do plano de tratamento. Conclusão:Importantes impactos foram alcançados até o presente momento, tanto em relação ao expressivo número de atendimentos odontológicos realizados quanto à redução das listas de espera para atendimento odontológico. Além disto, ressaltam-se que as ações de promoção de saúde ligadas ao projeto resultamem uma maior integração entre ensino-serviço-comunidade no município. (AU)

Objective: This study is an experience report about an extension project linked to a program of the city of Santa Maria, southern Brazil, called Sorria Santa Maria that started in 2017 and remains in progress. Our aim with this was, in addition to contributing with the users who have difficulty accessing dental attendance in primary care, promoting and demonstrating collective health practices, built on different work processes and closely linked to societal structures. Experience report: The program is intended for users of the municipality's Unified Health System who cannot access the Basic Health Units, due to the low coverage of municipal oral health and the professional functions performed during business hours by users. Arranges are made according to a waiting list with the contact of patients who expressed the desire for a dental evaluation. In consultations, these patients are welcomed, evaluated and treated until the treatment plan is completed. Conclusion: Important impacts have been achieved until now, both in relation to the significant number of dental cares, provided and the reduction of waiting lists for dental attendance. In addition, the health promotion actions linked to the project result in greater integration between teaching-service-community in the municipality. (AU)

Objetivo: Este estudio es un informe de experiencia sobre un proyecto de extensión vinculado a un programa de la ciudad de Santa María, sur de Brasil, llamado Sorria Santa María, que comenzó en 2017 y sigue en progreso. Nuestro objetivo con esto era, además de contribuir a los usuarios que tienen dificultades para acceder a la atención dental en la atención primaria, promover y demostrar prácticas colectivas de salud, basadas en diferentes procesos de trabajo y estrechamente vinculados a las estructuras sociales. Informe de experiencia: El programa está destinado a usuarios del Sistema de Salud Unificado de la municipalidad que no pueden acceder a las Unidades Básicas de Salud, debido a la baja cobertura de salud bucal municipal y las funciones profesionales realizadas por los usuarios durante el horario comercial. Los horarios se hacen de acuerdo con una lista de espera con el contacto de pacientes que expresaron el deseo de una evaluación dental. En las consultas, estos pacientes son bienvenidos, evaluados y tratados hasta que se completa el plan de tratamiento. Conclusión: Hasta ahora se han logrado impactos importantes, tanto en relación con el número significativo de atención dental brindada como con la reducción de las listas de espera para la atención dental. Además, es digno de mención que las acciones de promoción de la salud vinculadas al proyecto dan como resultado una mayor integración entre la comunidad de servicios de enseñanza en el municipio. (AU)