Uso dos serviços de saúde bucal entre crianças de famílias elegíveis ao Programa Bolsa Família

Abstract

Vulnerable population groups are more exposed to sickening risks and make less use of health services. There are six times more children who have never had accessed dental services among beneficiaries of the Family Income Program. This study aimed at describing dental services use by children up to seven years old, from families eligible for the Family Income Program in a city of Minas Gerais. Sampling was random and non-probabilistic. Between September and November, 2016, 84 adults responsible for the children were interviewed by one of the researchers, using a questionnaire previously validated, after signing an informed consent form. The dependent variable was the use of oral health services by the children and the independent ones were: social support policies, socioeconomic and demographic factors and the perception of the responsible about the oral health of the child. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using StataR software. In order to analyze the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent one, the Pearson chi-square association test was performed. The variables significantly associated with the use of oral health services were: child's age range (p = 0.000) and the perception of the responsible about childs oral health (p = 0.040). Most of the participating families were below the extreme poverty line (76.19%). There was a predominance of reports of non-use of dental services (67.86%). Among those who reported use, 92.31% found the treatment sought, with a predominance of older children whose caregivers reported less satisfaction with the oral health of their children. Data related to the use of oral health services were identified, together with their social determinants among children from families eligible for the Family Income Program, highlighting the importance of studies that could help address health inequities in vulnerable populations.