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The role of health-related behaviors in the socioeconomic disparities in oral health

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  • Sabbah, Wael
  • Tsakos, Georgios
  • Sheiham, Aubrey
  • Watt, Richard G.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the socioeconomic disparities in health-related behaviors and to assess if behaviors eliminate socioeconomic disparities in oral health in a nationally representative sample of adult Americans. Data are from the US Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994). Behaviors were indicated by smoking, dental visits, frequency of eating fresh fruits and vegetables and extent of calculus, used as a marker for oral hygiene. Oral health outcomes were gingival bleeding, loss of periodontal attachment, tooth loss and perceived oral health. Education and income indicated socioeconomic position. Sex, age, ethnicity, dental insurance and diabetes were adjusted for in the regression analysis. Regression analysis was used to assess socioeconomic disparities in behaviors. Regression models adjusting and not adjusting for behaviors were compared to assess the change in socioeconomic disparities in oral health. The results showed clear socioeconomic disparities in all behaviors. After adjusting for behaviors, the association between oral health and socioeconomic indicators attenuated but did not disappear. These findings imply that improvement in health-related behaviors may lessen, but not eliminate socioeconomic disparities in oral health, and suggest the presence of more complex determinants of these disparities which should be addressed by oral health preventive policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabbah, Wael & Tsakos, Georgios & Sheiham, Aubrey & Watt, Richard G., 2009. "The role of health-related behaviors in the socioeconomic disparities in oral health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 298-303, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:68:y:2009:i:2:p:298-303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kivimäki, M. & Lawlor, D.A. & Smith, G.D. & Kouvonen, A. & Virtanen, M. & Elovainio, M. & Vahtera, J., 2007. "Socioeconomic position, co-occurrence of behavior-related risk factors, and coronary heart Disease: The finnish public sector study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(5), pages 874-879.
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    1. Fatma Badr & Wael Sabbah, 2020. "Inequalities in Untreated Root Caries and Affordability of Dental Services among Older American Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-8, November.
    2. Andrea Repetto & Francisco Gallego & Cristian Larroulet & Leonor Palomer, 2016. "Unequal Access and Socioeconomic Gradients in Perceived Oral Health: Evidence from an Emerging Country," Working Papers wp_050, Adolfo Ibáñez University, School of Government.
    3. Daniel Hagenfeld & Heiko Zimmermann & Katja Korb & Nihad El-Sayed & Julia Fricke & Karin Halina Greiser & Jan Kühnisch & Jakob Linseisen & Christa Meisinger & Marc Schmitter & Ti-Sun Kim & Heiko Beche, 2019. "Periodontal Health and Use of Oral Health Services: A Comparison of Germans and Two Migrant Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-9, August.
    4. Koichiro Irie & Midori Tsuneishi & Mitsumasa Saijo & Chiaki Suzuki & Tatsuo Yamamoto, 2022. "Occupational Difference in Oral Health Status and Behaviors in Japanese Workers: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-10, July.
    5. Ying Ji & Yanling Wang & Lei Sun & Yan Zhang & Chun Chang, 2016. "The Migrant Paradox in Children and the Role of Schools in Reducing Health Disparities: A Cross-Sectional Study of Migrant and Native Children in Beijing, China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-12, July.
    6. Noha Gomaa & Michael Glogauer & Howard Tenenbaum & Arjumand Siddiqi & Carlos Quiñonez, 2016. "Social-Biological Interactions in Oral Disease: A ‘Cells to Society’ View," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.

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