Income-related inequality and decomposition of edentulism among aged people in China

Shuo Du; Menglin Cheng; Chunzi Zhang; Mengru Xu; Sisi Wang; Wenhui Wang; Xing Wang; Xiping Feng; Baojun Tai; Deyu Hu; Huancai Lin; Bo Wang; Chunxiao Wang; Shuguo Zheng; Xuenan Liu; Wensheng Rong; Weijian Wang; Tao Xu; Yan Si

doi:10.1186/s12903-022-02246-7

Income-related inequality and decomposition of edentulism among aged people in China

BMC Oral Health. 2022 May 31;22(1):215. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02246-7.

Authors

Shuo Du^#¹, Menglin Cheng^#², Chunzi Zhang³, Mengru Xu⁴, Sisi Wang¹, Wenhui Wang¹, Xing Wang⁵, Xiping Feng⁶, Baojun Tai⁷, Deyu Hu⁸, Huancai Lin⁹, Bo Wang⁵, Chunxiao Wang¹⁰, Shuguo Zheng¹, Xuenan Liu¹, Wensheng Rong¹, Weijian Wang¹, Tao Xu¹, Yan Si¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Digital Dentistry of Ministry of Health, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, China.
² Department of Stomatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
³ Distinct Health Care, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Department of Stomatology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
⁵ Chinese Stomatological Association, Beijing, China.
⁶ Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
⁷ School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
⁸ West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
⁹ Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
¹⁰ Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
¹¹ Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Digital Dentistry of Ministry of Health, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, China. siyanyy@163.com.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the income-related inequality of edentulism among the aged in China and identify the contributing factors.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the 4th National Oral Health Epidemiology Survey in China was conducted, and 65-74 years old were selected for the analysis of income-related inequality of edentulism. The concentration curve, Concentration index (CI) and Erreygers-corrected concentration index (EI) were used to represent inequality and its degree qualitatively and quantitatively, respectively. A decomposition method based on probit model was employed to determine the contributors of inequality, including demographic factors, income status, oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practices and self-perceived general health status.

Results: In China, aged people with edentulism were concentrated in the poor. The CI was - 0.2337 (95% CIs: - 0.3503, - 0.1170). The EI was - 0.0413 (95% CIs: - 0.0619, - 0.0207). The decomposition results showed that income (75.02%) and oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practices (15.52%) were the main contributors to the inequality.

Conclusion: This study showed that pro-poor inequality among the elderly with edentulism existed in China. Corresponding policies against the contributors could be considered to promote the health equality of the elders.

Keywords: China; Edentulism; Inequality; The elderly.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
China / epidemiology
Health Services
Health Status*
Humans
Income*
Socioeconomic Factors