Social gradients in dental attendance among older adults: Findings from the National Survey on Demographics and Health in Peru

Abstract

Objective: To assess the presence of inequalities in attendance to dental services in relation to socio-economic position (SEP) in a national sample of older adults in Peru.

Basic research design: A cross-sectional study using multivariate regression analysis of secondary data obtained from the National survey on demographics and family health in Peru (Encuesta Nacional en Demografía y Salud familiar, ENDES).

Participants: 4749 ≥60-year-olds.

Main outcome measure: Attendance at dental health services in the last 2 years. Independent variable: Wealth Index as a measure of SEP. Covariates: Sex, age, natural region of residence, place of residence and health insurance coverage.

Results: There was a social gradient for the association between attendance to dental health services and SEP, with older adults from the richest (fifth) quintile showing a 3.01 times higher probability of visiting dental services (95%CI 2.15-4.19), those in the fourth quintile PR=2.19 (95%CI 1.61-3.00), third quintile PR=2.00 (95%CI 1.49-2.69), and those in the second quintile PR=1.42 (95%CI 1.10-1.84), when compared to the poorest quintile after adjusting for sex, age, residence, natural region and health insurance coverage.

Conclusions: There is a clear social gradient in dental attendance among older adults in Peru. This is important to provide further insights into current national programmes and relevant long-term policies.

Keywords: Inequalities; Peru; dental attendance; older adults; socioeconomic factors.