Effect of Bolsa Familia Program in Children's Oral Health

Objectives: To investigate the effect of the Bolsa Familia Program in five-year-old children's oral health
Methods: This study uses a longitudinal analysis to examine the effect of Bolsa Familia Program in the oral health of five-year-old Children, in the city of Fortaleza, Northeast of Brazil (2016-2018). The study population included five-year-old children their parent/guardian, whose families are registered in the national unified social system registry (CadUnico) to receive the BFP benefit. Study participants were recruited in randomly selected primary health care facilities in the city. Analysis will be presented from the first wave of the study.
Results: Of the 191 adults (97.4% female, 80% were Children's mothers) surveyed (mean age 35 ± 0.76 years), more than 63% have less than a high school, and 72.1% were currently unemployed. More than 70% of participants were Bolsa Familia recipients (mean months receiving Bolsa Familia 46.2 ± 3.7). More than 62% of the children had never been to a dentist, and 56% of them had no dental caries.
The logistic regression results showed that among Bolsa Familia recipients, only the first year of enrolment was a protective factor of caries experience among five-year-old children. Other predictors associated with caries experience included: children's dental visit and family average income.
Conclusions: Only the first year of enrolment in the Bolsa Familia Program is associated with less dental caries among five-year-old children. In this sense, this study suggests that oral health preventive policies should be implemented to protect children from dental caries over the years of enrolment in this Program.