Abstract

HADDAD, Aida Sabbagh; TAGLE, Elizabeth López  and  PASSOS, Vivian de Agostino Biella. Current Status of the Dental Care Provided to Disabled People in Latin America: Chilean and Brazilian scenarios. Rev. Assoc. Paul. Cir. Dent. [online]. 2016, vol.70, n.2, pp. 132-140. ISSN 0004-5276.

Health care is an essential factor for the quality of life of human beings. Based upon this fact, information about the rights of disabled people presented by the WHO International Convention shows that people with disabilities must have the opportunity to access the highest level of health care without any prejudice. Furthermore, the State must guarantee such accessibility. In Chile 20% of the adult population presents some degree of disability; which means, a person who shows some limitation in regard to his/her physical, mental, intellectual, sensorial or other condition, and restricted participation in the society. In regard to the gender distribution, 14.8% of the man population and 24.9% of the woman population present some degree of deficiency. In Brazil, approximately 24.0% of the population (45.606.048 people) presents some deficiency (at least one of the searched deficiencies), including hearing, physical, visual, intellectual, autism disorder, ostomies and restricted mobility impairments. In this group, 25.800.681 people (26.5%) are women and 19.805.367 people (21.2%) are men. In general, according to the global assessment of the health condition of disabled people, their oral health is poor and their access to dental care is limited. Then, Chile and Brazil have developed projects to specifically contribute to the oral health of disable people. In this direction, Brazil has formulated public policies to guarantee autonomy and wider support of the health system, and of the education and work systems as well, improving the quality of life of disabled people.

Keywords : disabled people; public health care; oral care..