IADR Abstract Archives
Caries relate socioeconomic inequalities among Libyan dental patients
Objectives:
To assess socioeconomic disparities in care experience and restorative care among Libyan adults.
Methods:
A cross-sectional design was used to assess caries experience and restorative treatment needs. The sample was recruited from dental patients attending public and private dental clinics in three Libyan cities, including urban and rural areas. Caries was measured using the DMFT index according to WHO criteria. In addition, caries experience and restorative care (F component) were compared according to education level, practice type (private vs public), area (Urban vs Rural), and Gender. All statistical tests were carried out at a p-value less than 0.05.
Results:
A total of 1647 dental patients were recruited in the study. More than half of them were males (53%), the majority of the participants were living in urban areas and received care in public clinics (71.9%), and just above a third of them attained a University education (38.2%). The average DMFT of the whole study sample was (8.69, sd=6.73). The bivariate analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences. More decayed and fewer filled teeth were observed in patients with lower education and those who attended public dental practices. Patients from rural areas showed less decay and restorations.
Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that education level as an indicator of social class revealed a gradient in caries experience and restorative care among Libyan adults. Disparities were also reported regarding practice type and living in urban or rural areas. Further research is required to understand better the mediating pathway of social inequalities in the Libyan culture.
To assess socioeconomic disparities in care experience and restorative care among Libyan adults.
Methods:
A cross-sectional design was used to assess caries experience and restorative treatment needs. The sample was recruited from dental patients attending public and private dental clinics in three Libyan cities, including urban and rural areas. Caries was measured using the DMFT index according to WHO criteria. In addition, caries experience and restorative care (F component) were compared according to education level, practice type (private vs public), area (Urban vs Rural), and Gender. All statistical tests were carried out at a p-value less than 0.05.
Results:
A total of 1647 dental patients were recruited in the study. More than half of them were males (53%), the majority of the participants were living in urban areas and received care in public clinics (71.9%), and just above a third of them attained a University education (38.2%). The average DMFT of the whole study sample was (8.69, sd=6.73). The bivariate analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences. More decayed and fewer filled teeth were observed in patients with lower education and those who attended public dental practices. Patients from rural areas showed less decay and restorations.
Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that education level as an indicator of social class revealed a gradient in caries experience and restorative care among Libyan adults. Disparities were also reported regarding practice type and living in urban or rural areas. Further research is required to understand better the mediating pathway of social inequalities in the Libyan culture.