Resumo

PALMA, Adriana Benquerer Oliveira et al. Individual determining factors of the non-use of dental services by 5-year-old children. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2015, vol.51, n.1, pp. 14-24. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: Cross-sectional study that evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with the non-use of dental services among 5-year-old children in Montes Claros, Brazil. Methods: Sample included 997 children who were submitted to clinical exams by calibrated examiners. Parents answered questionnaires about socio-economic conditions, perceived needs, and use of dental services. Bivariate and multivariate analyses (Robust Poisson Regression) tested the association between the "use of dental services" and independent variables according to Andersen's Behavioral Model. The SPSS 18.0 program was used to analyze data. Results: A proportion of 64.3% (n = 603) had never used dental services. There was greater prevalence of children who did not use dental services among those who did not receive information about how to avoid oral problems (1.38; 95% CI 1.27-1.50), with lower income (1.73; 95% CI 1.22-2.47), children of mothers with a lower educational level, who did not use fluoride (1.41; 95% CI 1.20-1.65), and children of mothers who did not perceive their children's dental needs (1.31; 95% CI 1.17-1.47). The prevalence of the non-use of dental services was lower in children without Family Health Strategy (FHS) coverage (0.90; 955 CI 0.80-1.00) and diminished with the increase in the number of filled primary teeth (0.26; 95% CI 0.14-0.47). Conclusion: There was low prevalence of dental service use. The results suggest an unequal distribution in the use of dental services, especially those determined by social factors.

Palavras-chave : Cross-sectional studies; Child preschool; Dental care for children.