Effectiveness of water fluoridation in an upper-middle-income country: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To summarize the information on the effectiveness of community water fluoridation (CWF) on the reduction of dental caries in the context of the wide use of fluoridated toothpaste in Brazil. DESIGN: A systematic review was conducted regarding the effect of CWF based on studies with Brazilian population groups using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, and SCOPUS. The literature search was conducted up to August 2019. Studies that compared caries experience in at least two areas, one fluoridated and the other non-fluoridated, by mean dmft/DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index or caries prevalence (caries vs. caries-free) were included. Considering the beginning of widespread use of fluoride dentifrice and the time for producing dental caries decline, studies published before 1995 were excluded. Descriptive analysis and meta-analyses were carried out. The effect size was measured by mean difference for dmft and DMFT ± SD and odds ratios on a logarithmic scale for caries prevalence. RESULTS: Of the 574 studies retrieved, 16 and 10 were included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively. Fluoridated areas exhibited lower mean dmft/DMFT than non-fluoridated areas did. The mean difference in the dmft between non-fluoridated and fluoridated areas was -2.28 (95% CI -3.26; -1.30) for children aged 5-8 years and -1.12 (95% CI -1.93; -0.32) for those aged 3-12 years; the mean difference in the DMFT was -0.61 (95% CI -0.80; -0.42) for the children aged between 7 and 12 years. The caries prevalence was 1.4 times and 57% lower, respectively, at primary and permanent dentition in fluoridated areas. Heterogeneity was observed in all age groups, ranging from 77.6% to 98.2%. CONCLUSION: Community water fluoridation remains effective in preventing dental caries in children younger than 13 years, even with the widespread use of fluoridated toothpaste.

Impact of demographic and clinical variables on the oral health-related quality of life among five-year-old children: a population-based study using self-reports.

BACKGROUND: Although SOHO-5 has been validated, there is no study testing this instrument in population-based samples. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of demographic and oral clinical variables on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in 5-year-old children from a socially deprived Brazilian area using selfreports. DESIGN: Data from 588 children were analyzed. Examinations included untreated dental caries and occlusal deviations. Children answered the Brazilian SOHO-5 version and interviewers collected demographic characteristics of the child (sex and skin color). Robust Poisson regression associated outcome and exposures. RESULTS: General, the oral impacts were reported by 71.1% of children. The mean and standard deviation total score of the Brazilian SOHO-5 were 3.51 and 3.82, respectively. Children with untreated dental caries (PR = 1.28; P = 0.004) and increased overjet (PR = 1.35; P = 0.002) experienced a worse OHRQoL. Dark and mixed skin color children did not have a good impact on their OHRQoL (PR = 1.53; P = 0.006 and PR = 1.44; P < 0.000, respectively) compared to light ones. CONCLUSIONS: Untreated dental caries and increased overjet were independently associated with worst OHRQoL in 5-year-old children. As an indication of social deprivation, dark and mixed skin color children compared to light ones presented higher probability for reporting worst OHRQoL independently of the oral clinical conditions.

Food insecurity and dental caries in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional survey in the western Brazilian Amazon.

We analyzed the association between food insecurity and dental caries in 7- to 9-yr-old schoolchildren. We performed a cross-sectional survey nested in a population-based cohort study of 203 schoolchildren. The participants lived in the urban area of a small town within the western Brazilian Amazon. Dental examinations were performed according to criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. The number of decayed deciduous and permanent teeth as a count variable was the outcome measure. Socio-economic status, food security, behavioral variables, and child nutritional status, measured by Z-score for body mass index (BMI), were investigated, and robust Poisson regression models were used. The results showed a mean (SD) of 3.63 (3.26) teeth affected by untreated caries. Approximately 80% of schoolchildren had at least one untreated decayed tooth, and nearly 60% lived in food-insecure households. Sex, household wealth index, mother's education level, and food-insecurity scores were associated with dental caries in the crude analysis. Dental caries was 1.5 times more likely to be associated with high food-insecurity scores after adjusting for socio-economic status and sex. A significant dose-response relationship was observed. In conclusion, food insecurity is highly associated with dental caries in 7- to 9-yr-old children and may be seen as a risk factor. These findings suggest that food-security policies could reduce dental caries.

Consistency of information on the provision of water fluoridation in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the consistency of data regarding the provision of fluoridation in Brazilian municipalities with water supply systems. METHODS: Official data from the National Basic Sanitation Survey and the National Information System on Sanitation for 2017 were compared. RESULTS: Out of 5,570 municipalities in Brazil, 4,546 (81.6%) had water supply systems. The agreement between data sources was 84%, with a Kappa of 0.668, indicating substantial agreement. However, the estimates of fluoridation provision exhibited an average discrepancy of 8.1 percentage points, ranging from 1.2 points in the Central-West region to 21.4 points in the Northeast region. CONCLUSION: To address these inconsistencies, it is essential to enhance information sources, ensuring more reliable data for health, sanitation authorities, and society at large.

The Trajectory of Brazilian Immunization Program between 1980 and 2018: From the Virtuous Cycle to the Vaccine Coverage Decline.

BACKGROUND: Public health policies are crossed by economic and political interests that can affect the maintenance of the immunization programs and their vaccination coverages. The aim was to investigate the political and economic conditions that marked the trajectory of the Brazilian immunization program from 1980 to 2018. METHODS: Documentary research gathered data on public expenditures with epidemiological surveillance and vaccine procurement and nationwide estimates of vaccine coverage. The scientific literature on the program's implementation and the country's political and economic conditions was examined. The theoretical approach was based on historical institutionalism. RESULTS: The results showed rising, high rates maintaining and falling vaccination coverages in the period. As of 2010, there was a tendency for a reduction in total federal spending on epidemiological surveillance, putting pressure on the budgets of the sub-national governments in their respective areas of coverage, and on federal spending in dollars for the acquisition of immunobiologicals and inputs. CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude and complexity of the program's trajectory have been crossed by diverse dynamics conditioned by economic and political interests reflecting at a deeper level the advance of capitalism through fiscal austerity measures over democracy's aspirations for greater balance and justice in the distribution of resources.

Public Policies for Fluoride Use in Colombia and Brazil before and during the Adoption of the Right to Health.

The use of fluorides is essential in the prevention of dental caries, considered to be the main dental public health problem. The formulation and implementation of public health policies can vary from country to country, depending on multiple factors. This study aims to analyze the interaction model between the knowledge produced about the use of fluorides and its implementation through public policies in two South American countries until the period of constitutional reform in each country. A narrative review was conducted with a systematic search of scientific articles and normative devices regarding the use of fluorides in public health in each country during the period prior to the implementation of the right to health in the Constitution. In both countries, there was an intense interaction among governmental organizations, researchers, academic and professional leaders, and companies involved in sanitation and salt production. Fluoride use strategies in Brazil and Colombia after an initial stage of similar characteristics began to differ in terms of public policy options for systemic fluoride use. In Brazil, the option was to adjust the concentration of fluoride in the water, while in Colombia, the addition of fluoride to table salt was consolidated as a public policy.

Dental care for persons with disabilities: discretion on the frontline.

OBJECTIVE: To depict the influence of discretionary actions exercised by frontline professionals and organizations on the implementation of diverse modalities of access to specialized dental care within the Care Network for Persons with Disabilities. METHODS: A case study conducted in two Brazilian health regions characterized by distinct means of access to specialized dental care employing documentary analysis and interviews with key stakeholders across the period spanning from July to December 2019. RESULTS: In the referenced access region, there was a notable centrality of Primary Health Care (PHC) in caregiving, wherein planning and assessment were integral components of institutional routines. Where spontaneous demand scheduling was accepted, sporadic exchanges of information were evident between PHC units and specialized facilities. The coordination role in caregiving was not vested in PHC teams, and activities such as planning and assessment were not assimilated into organizational routines. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of policies for specialized dental care for persons with disabilities relied on the coordination furnished by PHC and the orchestration of planning and assessment endeavors aimed at establishing an integrated care network. This implementation proved subject to the discretionary authority of frontline professionals and organizations, highlighting the significant role of relational and institutional environments in the context of public policy implementation within a decentralized and regionalized healthcare system.

Level of natural fluoride in public water supply: geographical and meteorological factors in Brazil's Northeast.

This study analyzed the relationships between the concentration of natural fluoride in public water supply and meteorological and hydrographic factors in a northeastern region of Brazil. This was a descriptive, analytical, ecological, longitudinal, and field study conducted by collecting water in 23 municipalities (2019 to 2020) of four macroregions of Paraíba (Brazil): coast (1), borborema (2), agreste (3), and outback (4). Four collection sites were selected per municipality: two near and two distant from the water treatment plant. Fluoride concentration was determined using a combined ion-specific electrode and classified according to the Collaborating Center of the Ministry of Health in Oral Health Surveillance. Meteorological, hydrographic, and population characteristics were also collected. All analyzed samples showed natural fluoride; macroregions 2 and 4 showed the highest mean fluoride concentration, macroregion 4 presented the highest mean temperature, and all macroregions showed a similar pattern of precipitation. The mean fluoride concentration of the four macroregions was below the appropriate value to prevent caries. An increase in precipitation would decrease the fluoride concentration in water. In conclusion, the concentration of natural fluoride varied according to meteorological and hydrographic factors. The concentration in surface waters increased during periods of low precipitation. Therefore, this study provided important information to support implementation of community water fluoridation in this region.

Accuracy of screening for potentially malignant disorders of the oral mucosa by dentists in primary care.

PURPOSE: To examine the accuracy of a screening programme for potentially malignant disorders of the oral mucosa by visual inspection in primary health care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on secondary data from the Primary Care Information System maintained by seven units of family health in São Paulo City managed by a non-governmental agency. The reference population was composed of 15,072 residents 50 years old or more of both genders. The study population comprised 2,980 individuals. During screening in community settings, the oral mucosa was examined by trained dentists and distributed into two categories: (a) screen negative (b) screen positive. All participants underwent comprehensive clinical exams by a general dental practitioner supervised by a specialist. Individual records were grouped in a working dataset. Point and 95% confidence interval estimates were calculated regarding measures of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively). RESULTS: 18.0% of the population was considered screen positive. A total of 133 lesions (4.5%) were identified and 8 cases of oral cancer were confirmed, which corresponded to a prevalence rate of 27 cases in 10,000 people, a much higher rate than expected. The measures found were Se: 91.7% (85.3-95.6), Sp: 85.4% (84.1-86.7), PPV: 22.7% (19.3-26.5), NPV: 99.5% (99.2-99.8). The visual screen presented high accuracy. CONCLUSION: The test presented high sensibility and specificity values. From a public health point of view, the high accuracy levels showed the importance of oral health teams on family health strategy for more comprehensive primary care. Targeting risk groups and delegating the screening to community health agents may improve PPV and coverage.

The Use of Fluorides in Public Health: 65 Years of History and Challenges from Brazil.

Untreated dental caries is the most common disease globally and fluoride use at the population level is crucial for its control. To investigate the economic and political conditions under which the trajectory of population-based fluoride use has occurred is key for a more comprehensive view on its current and future challenges. The objective was to give a brief history and summarize the information on the use of fluorides at the population level in Brazil from 1952 to 2017 and to point to current and future challenges. A critical overview was undertaken based on country-level analyses comprising political and economic conditions. The analytical approach adopted a set of premises applicable to the study of capitalist democracies. Fluoride methods of systemic and topic use began to be employed in Brazilian public health programs in the 1950s and in a combined way from 1974. Differences in political and economic contexts were highlighted for four periods: the first interventions from 1952 to 1974, when the fluoridated water law was approved; the expansion after 1974 until 1988, when a new constitution was enacted; the following time until 2010; and the final period. From the 1980s to 2008, water fluoridation coverage increased progressively, consolidating as a major strategy of systemic use in spite of inequalities among territories. Activities aimed to promote access to topical fluoride use increased and maintained stability until 2014, when they dropped sharply. Regulation of fluoride dentifrice's quality remained insufficient. It was hypothesized that the strengthening of conservative liberalism and the increase in fiscal austerity observed in recent years might produce serious constraints on public investment and limit access to fluorides. To reduce inequities and promote benefits for all, including the most vulnerable groups, policies based on egalitarian and social justice theoretical perspectives are needed more than ever.

Impact of water fluoridation on dental caries decline across racial and income subgroups of Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of community water fluoridation (CWF) on differences in dental caries decline across racial and socioeconomic subgroups of Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: Two nationwide Brazilian population-based oral health surveys were used (Brazilian Oral Health Survey 2003 and 2010). In total, 7,198 adolescents from 15 years to 19 years old living in 50 cities investigated in both surveys were included. The mean numbers of untreated decayed teeth (DT) according to racial (Whites vs. Browns/Blacks) and socioeconomic subgroups (at or above the minimum wage per capita vs. under) were analysed. Difference-in-differences negative binomial regressions were adjusted by schooling, age, and sex. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth and DT prevalence, calculated as a categorical variable, were used in sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: The adjusted difference of reduction in DT was similar across socioeconomic subgroups (ß=-0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.45 to 0.35) and favoured, but not to a significant degree, Whites (ß=-0.34; 95% CI, -0.74 to 0.04) compared to Brown/Blacks in fluoridated areas. In non-fluoridated areas, significant differences were observed in the mean number of DT, favouring the higher socioeconomic subgroup (ß=-0.26; 95% CI, -0.53 to -0.01) and Whites (ß=-0.40; 95% CI, -0.69 to -0.11) in relation to their counterparts. The sensitivity analyses confirmed the findings. CONCLUSIONS: The similar reduction in DT across income subgroups suggests that CWF has had a beneficial effect on tackling income inequalities in dental caries within a 7-year timeframe.

Intersectoral collaboration and coordination mechanisms for implementing water fluoridation: Challenges from a case study in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: Community water fluoridation has been associated with better oral health conditions globally and reduced dental caries. While oral health policies are governed by the health sector agenda, water fluoridation is undertaken by public, private, and mixed public/private companies of the sanitation sector. The first aim of this study was to investigate the degree of intersectoral collaboration, and the second was to investigate how the coordination mechanisms are perceived by the sanitation agents of the sectors involved in water quality management, for the potential establishment of water fluoridation in a central-west state in Brazil. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with chief sanitation agents from nonprofit, profit, and mixed public/private companies responsible for water quality and fluoridation in a purposive sample. Theoretical frameworks of intersectoral collaboration and coordination mechanisms were used for analysis. RESULTS: Twelve interviews were conducted. Informal collaboration was identified in the sanitation sector within companies involved in water provision. The main coordination mechanisms were network-type mechanisms, which involve consultations and knowledge sharing, and market-type mechanisms, which explore new job opportunities and cost-effectiveness, especially in water quality measures. Enabling themes (enablers) were identified, such as positive attitude toward including water quality and fluoridation in a collaborative health and sanitation common agenda. Moreover, fluoridation did not meet the regulatory and surveillance agenda at the state level, and until that moment, there was no proposal of the health sector for water fluoridation. CONCLUSIONS: Partnership creation, consolidation, and shared mission, especially between health and sanitation sectors, were identified as main challenges for implementing water fluoridation policy.

Coverage of fluoride data in water supply systems using the R software.

OBJECTIVE: To present a protocol to criticize data on fluoride monitoring in water with R software programming features, illustrating its application to describe data coverage, and fluoridation quality in 2015. METHODS: The study used big data from the Sistema de Informação de Vigilância da Qualidade da Água para Consumo Humano (Information System for Surveillance of Water Quality for Human Consumption) that included all the Brazilian municipalities. Data criticism procedures were performed with the aid of R software. Filters were applied to remove municipalities with less than four months of records (1), and records with null values (2) and outliers (3). Municipalities were classified regarding the presence of valid information and fluoridation quality according to macro-region, federation units, and population size, presenting the roadmap at each step. RESULTS: Approximately 134,000 records were reviewed. Of the Brazilian municipalities, 39% had data on the fluoride parameter, and only 33.3% had four months or more of information frequency. After applying filters, 1,810 (32.5%) municipalities had valid information for the fluoride parameter, with substantial variation between the South (83.6%) and North (0.7%) macro-regions. Of these, 726 (40.1%) showed very good fluoridation quality, determined by 80% or more records within the optimal concentration interval for prevention of dental caries, with higher value (54.3%) in municipalities with 50,000 inhabitants or more, and lower (34.2%) in those with less than 10,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: Important differences persist within and between the Brazilian macro-regions regarding both the availability of information on the parameter, and the quality of water fluoridation in public supply systems in Brazil. The protocol for data review and processing with R software programming resources proved to be very useful for the production of information for decision-making based on a standardized method.

Does water fluoridation influence ethnic inequalities in caries in Brazilian children and adolescents?

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the influence of community water fluoridation on ethnic inequalities in untreated dental caries among children and adolescents in Brazil while taking the human development context into account. METHODS: Data from a nationwide Brazilian epidemiological population oral health survey were used (SB Brazil 2010). Outcomes were caries prevalence measured by the proportion of individuals with one or more untreated decayed teeth and caries severity defined by the mean number of untreated decayed teeth (DT). Three different contexts were considered: 1-cities with no water fluoridation; 2-cities with water fluoridation and low Human Development Index (HDI); and 3-cities with water fluoridation and high HDI. The exposure was ethnic/racial group (White, Pardo, Black) and covariates were age, sex and household income. Multilevel logistic and negative binomial regressions were performed with 6696 children (aged 5 years) and 11 585 adolescents (aged 12 and 15-19 years). RESULTS: For both children and adolescents, ethnic differences in caries prevalence and mean DT were found in the nonfluoridated cities with low HDI and also in cities with high HDI, most of which were fluoridated. For example in nonfluoridated cities with low HDI, 5-year-old Pardo children were more likely to have untreated decay (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.46) and had more decayed teeth (RR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.34) than their White counterparts after adjusting for sex and household income. No statistically significant differences were observed in fluoridated cities with low HDI. CONCLUSION: Water fluoridation appears to be associated with reduced ethnic inequalities in dental caries prevalence and mean DT among children and adolescents in more disadvantaged settings.

Population-based virucidal phthalocyanine gargling/rinsing protocol to reduce the risk of coronavirus disease-2019: a community trial.

Aim: In this community trial, the objective was to evaluate the incidence of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in two similar communities in three distinct phases: 1 (before the intervention), 2 (during the intervention), and 3 (after the intervention). Methods: The test community received the oral antiseptic intervention (experimental), while the control community did not. The official information agency ("Statewise System for Data Analysis") provided the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Data were analyzed according to the three phases per epidemiological week (epi) using the R Core Team (2021) program. The relative risk and 95% confidence intervals between the cumulative incidence values of the test and control communities were calculated for each period. In the test community, a total of 995 residents over 10 years of age received two bottles containing 600 ml of mouthwash containing antiviral phthalocyanine derivative (APD). The participants were asked to gargle/rinse with of 5 mL of the mouthwash containing ADP 3 to 5 times a day, for 1 min, until the bottles were empty. Results: In phases 1 and 3, the disease risk between the two communities did not differ significantly (p>0.05), while in phase 2, the disease risk was 54% lower in the test community than in the control community. Conclusion: The use of the APD mouthwash protocol seems to reduce the COVID-19 incidence at the population level, and further studies are needed to confirm its protective effect under more precisely controlled conditions.

Effectiveness of the bucco-lingual technique within a school-based supervised toothbrushing program on preventing caries: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Supervised toothbrushing programs using fluoride dentifrice have reduced caries increment. However there is no information about the effectiveness of the professional cross-brushing technique within a community intervention. The aim was to assess if the bucco-lingual technique can increase the effectiveness of a school-based supervised toothbrushing program on preventing caries. METHODS: A randomized double-blinded controlled community intervention trial to be analyzed at an individual level was conducted in a Brazilian low-income fluoridated area. Six preschools were randomly assigned to the test and control groups and 284 five-year-old children presenting at least one permanent molar with emerged/sound occlusal surface participated. In control group, oral health education and dental plaque dying followed by toothbrushing with fluoride dentifrice supervised directly by a dental assistant, was developed four times per year. At the remaining school days the children brushed their teeth under indirect supervising of the teachers. In test group, children also underwent a professional cross-brushing on surfaces of first permanent molar rendered by a specially trained dental assistant five times per year. Enamel and dentin caries were recorded on buccal, occlusal and lingual surfaces of permanent molars during 18-month follow-up. Exposure time of surfaces was calculated and incidence density ratio was estimated using Poisson regression model. RESULTS: Difference of 21.6 lesions per 1,000 children between control and test groups was observed. Among boys whose caries risk was higher compared to girls, incidence density was 50% lower in test group (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Modified program was effective among the boys. It is licit to project a relevant effect in a larger period suggesting in a broader population substantial reduction of dental care needs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN18548869.

Oral health guidelines in the primary care policies of five selected countries: An integrative review.

Background: Oral conditions remain a major health problem worldwide. Primary Health Care (PHC) has been recognized as a strategy to construct integrated health systems in order to produce the best health outcomes and reduce inequities through its attributes. Nevertheless, oral health integration in PHC remains unclear due to a lack of systematic knowledge. Aim: To summarize oral health guidelines focused on the comprehensiveness component of PHC in the health system and on the intersectoral component of health promotion and disease prevention actions in five selected countries. Methods: An integrative review of scientific and grey literature was led. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Brazil were selected. Content analysis was performed based on the comprehensiveness of care and health promotion and disease prevention categories. Results: Forty-one studies were selected to compose the review. Regarding the comprehensiveness of care, the horizontal dimension was more prominent, suggesting that oral care should be provided in cooperation with other health areas. Health promotion and disease prevention actions in intersectoral contexts are complex but seem to be effective. Programs for spreading access to fluorides and actions with the education sector are the most established ones. Conclusion: The integration of oral health in PHC policies is recommended in the guidelines of all countries, however, it stills represents a major challenge for the health care systems. These guidelines represent an important source to support decision-makers, policy-makers and stakeholders.

Dental caries, periodontal disease and restorative dental care among Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in Brazil: A descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare patterns of dental caries, periodontal disease and dental care among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Central-West Brazilian subpopulations. METHODS: Data were from two population-based cross-sectional studies involving 5-, 12-, 15-19- and 35-44-year-olds. The first examined were the Guarani, Kaiowá, Terena and Kadiwéu Indigenous groups from Mato Grosso do Sul Brazilian state and the second comprised a non-Indigenous population. Mean numbers of sound teeth, decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT), prevalence of poor oral hygiene for adults (35-44 years) and of periodontal disease were estimated. Restorative dental service utilization was measured using the Care Index. RESULTS: The study populations comprised of 1830 Indigenous and 29 395 non-Indigenous people. The Kaiwoá ethnic group had the lowest DMFT among Indigenous groups for ages 12, 15-19 years; 0.9 (95% CI 0.7-1.1) and 2.4 (95% CI 1.9-2.9), respectively. The highest values were observed among the 12-year-old Terena ethnic group and 15- to 19-year-old Kadiwéo groups; 2.2 (95% CI 1.8-2.5) and 3.7 (95% CI 3.1-4.4), respectively. The mean DMFT values were significantly lower among Indigenous than non-Indigenous people for all age groups. The prevalence of bleeding and calculus was 70.3% (95% CI 64.5%-75.5%) and 80.1% (95% CI 74.8%-84.5%), respectively, for Indigenous people and 43.9% (95% CI 34.4%-50.7%) and 61.5% (95% CI 55.4%-67.2%), respectively, for the non-Indigenous population. Restorative services were higher among 5-year-old non-Indigenous children and adults than for Indigenous groups. Among Indigenous groups, the Terena had the highest level of restored teeth (38.0% at 12 years) and Kadiwéu the lowest level (8.8% at 12 years). CONCLUSION: In our study, Indigenous people had a lower caries burden, but less access to restorative services than their non-Indigenous counterparts. These disparities likely reflect differences in historical, socioeconomic, cultural, environmental and political determinants that both groups have experienced differently over time.

Deprived areas and community water fluoridation in Brazil: a multilevel approach for refocusing public policy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether geographic location, socioeconomic status, infant mortality, and mortality from diarrheal disease in health regions are associated with the provision of community water fluoridation (CWF) in Brazilian municipalities. METHODS: A multilevel ecological study was conducted based on data from the National Survey of Basic Sanitation and Human Development Atlas. A multilevel analysis was carried out considering Brazilian municipalities as the first level and health regions as the second level, comprising sanitation, demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics. RESULTS: The observation units comprised 5,565 municipalities clustered in 438 health regions in Brazil. The lack of CWF provision was positively associated with the following municipal characteristics: a below-median proportion of inhabitants covered by the sewage network, medium to very low human development index, below-median per capita gross domestic product, and an above-median percentage of expenditures on sanitation. In relation to the health regions, the likelihood of a lack of CWF provision was greater in the municipalities belonging to the health regions located in the Northern and Northeastern areas of Brazil and in those where child mortality due to acute diarrheal disease and the proportion of people with low income were higher when adjusted by municipal indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Information on the characteristics associated with CWF provision constitutes important input for refocusing public policy to reduce inequalities among Brazilian municipalities and health regions. These findings may help policy-makers to understand the challenges facing CWF expansion in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

Structure and performance of medical and dental care in two Brazilian health regions between 2007 and 2014. / Estrutura e desempenho da assistência médica e odontológica em duas regiões de saúde brasileiras entre 2007 e 2014.

The structure and performance of medical and dental care were analyzed in two health regions that differed socioeconomically and in the provision of services, through case study in the Norte-Barretos (São Paulo) and Juazeiro (Bahia) regions from 2007 and 2014, taking into account political, organizational and structural dimensions and structure and performance indicators. The results showed that the regionalization was positively recognized, the distribution of services did not meet the population demand, and the installed capacity of the health care network was not adequate for the health needs of the population. Norte-Barretos stood out regarding structure (except for potential coverage of oral health teams in the Family Health Strategy) and effectiveness, while Juazeiro stood out concerning efficiency; e.g. although with fewer resources, the use of services was relatively higher. The observed pattern seems to reflect aspects related to the regionalization and the political path of each care provided, the so-called "silos effect". The results may support the design of health policies aimed at overcoming the undersized structure of public health services in regions of lower socioeconomic development and search for parameters and coordination mechanisms to balance performance indicators better.

O artigo analisa a estrutura e o desempenho das assistências médica e odontológica de duas regiões, distintas socioeconomicamente e na oferta de serviços, por meio de estudo de caso nas regiões Norte-Barretos (São Paulo) e Juazeiro (Bahia) entre 2007-2014, a partir das dimensões política, organizacional e estrutural e de indicadores de estrutura e desempenho. Observou-se que a regionalização foi reconhecida de forma positiva, a distribuição dos serviços não atendia à demanda populacional e a capacidade instalada da rede de atenção à saúde não estava adequada às necessidades da população. Norte-Barretos se sobressaiu em relação à estrutura (exceto para cobertura potencial da ESB na ESF) e efetividade; enquanto Juazeiro se destacou em relação à eficiência; embora com menos recursos, a utilização dos serviços foi relativamente mais elevada. O padrão observado parece refletir aspectos relacionados à re gionalização e à trajetória política de cada assistência, o efeito silos. Os resultados podem subsidiar o desenho de políticas de saúde voltadas a superar o subdimensionamento da estrutura de serviços públicos assistenciais nas regiões de menor desenvolvimento socioeconômico e a busca de parâmetros e mecanismos de coordenação a fim de equilibrar indicadores de desempenho.