Objective: To determine differences between the use of medical and dental services in children and youth living in Talca, Chile (2009-2011).
Subjects and Methods: This descriptive study is part of the Chilean component of the New Canadian Children and Youth Study.The study included 147 children recruited in schools and snowball sampling.Sociodemographic variables were measured including sex and age. The number of visits to the doctor and dentist in the past year were asked. Data was analyzed using Fisher’s exact test.
Results: On average, 81.6% of children consulted a physician and 60.5% consulted a dentist (Fisher, p-value= 0,028). The bivariate analysis between age groups (4-7 and 10-13) and dental and medical service utilization was not statistically significant (Fisher p-value =0.403 and 0.089 respectively).More detailed age-group analysis (4-5, 6-7, 10-11 and 12-13) indicated decreased medical service utilization with increased age group ranging from 90.6% at 4-5 age group to 73.3% at 12-13.Conversely , there was increased dental service utilization with increased age group, ranging from 50.0% at 4-5 age group to 63.3 % at 12-13 age group. At ages 10-11 dental service utilization was significantly higher than medical service utilization (Fisher, p value=0,021).
Conclusion: Significant differences between medical and dental service utilization were observed overall; differences by age were also noted. The difference observed in 10-11 year-olds could be due to orthodontic treatment.