Dental service utilisation among adults in a European developing country: findings from a national health survey.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The objective was to estimate the frequency of visits to a dentist and to assess the impact of determinants on dental care utilisation among adults in the Republic of Srpska (RS), Bosnia and Herzegovina.

METHODS:

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the 2010 National Health Survey performed in the RS. A total of 4,128 adults (≥18 years) were interviewed in their homes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between demographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics, health behaviours, self-rated health, self-reported noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and dental care utilisation.

RESULTS:

Only 20% of all respondents reported a visit to a dentist in the year preceding the interview. Younger respondents (OR = 0.97), women (OR = 1.30-1.39), urban dwellers (OR = 1.41-1.61), those who were employed (OR = 1.20) and those who self-reported NCDs (OR = 1.32-1.33) more frequently utilised dental services. The opposite was true for those in the low wealth index group (OR = 0.79), persons with a low (OR = 0.31) and middle (OR = 0.48) level of education and people who self-rated their health as average (OR = 0.76-0.80).

CONCLUSION:

The present study revealed a low frequency of visits to a dentist, especially for preventive oral health care. It also confirmed demographic, socio-economic and health-related differences in dental-care utilisation in RS. To minimise those differences, systemic approaches aimed at increasing access to dental care could be an important step. Oral health-promotion policies need to be adopted in the RS.

• Authors: Sladjana Šiljak, Janko Janković, Jelena Marinković, Miloš Erić, Teresa Janevic, Slavenka Janković
• Journal: International dental journal (Int Dent J) Vol. 69 Issue 3 Pg. 200-206 (Jun 2019) ISSN: 1875-595X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30362506 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2018 FDI World Dental Federation.

Topics

• Adult
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Dental Care
• Developing Countries
• Europe
• Female
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Oral Health
• Socioeconomic Factors