Search

The aim of the present study was to determine associations between race/skin color and the use of dental services and self-rated oral health. A cross-sectional population study analyzing data on adults who participated in the 2013/2014 Campinas Health Survey. Sociodemographic characteristics, variables related to dental visits, access to dental care, and subjective oral health conditions were evaluated in relation to race/color. The association between each variable and color/race was investigated using the χ2 test with the Rao–Scott correction (p-value = 0.05). Multivariate Poisson regression analysis was performed to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios for age, schooling, income, and living conditions. The results revealed that assessments of one's oral health status as poor (PR = 1.26), assessments of the dental care received as poor (PR = 1.68), and dental appointments for the purposes of extraction (PR = 1.13) were more prevalent in the black population, demonstrating independent associations with race. Associations between race and dental appointments for routine checkups, appointments for urgent care, the last appointment more than two years earlier, difficult access to dental care, difficulty eating, and being ashamed of smiling due to one’s dental condition were explained by socioeconomic status. The results point to inequality in oral health and the need to eliminate racism in oral health, which remains pronounced. It is hoped that bringing this situation to light will help our society move forward in the fight against racism in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to measure how diabetes, its complications, and limitations are associated to the domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 2178 individuals from the 2014/2015 City of Campinas Health Survey. The SF-36 was used to measure HRQoL. Mean scores were calculated. Crude and adjusted beta coefficients were estimated using multiple linear regression. Diabetes was associated with a significant reduction in the scores of five SF-36 domains. However, no significant reduction of scores was found among diabetics without complications and with no reports of limitations. The reduction in HRQoL was more accentuated with the increase in the number of complications. Three domains were affected in diabetics with one complication and all were affected in those with two or more complications, especially the role physical, role emotional, and physical functioning. Five domains were affected among diabetics who reported some degree of limitation and all were affected in those who reported high degree of limitation. Patients who reported limitation even in the absence of complications had reductions of the scores especially in the role emotional and social functioning. The results reveal that the association between diabetes and HRQoL only prevail in the occurrence of complications and limitations imposed by the disease, indicating the necessity to avoid or delay the emergence of chronic complications with adequate control methods and paying attention to the perception of limitation reported by the patient.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of emotional problems on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to the type of emotional problem, degree of limitation, and perceived control of the problem with treatment. A population-based cross-sectional study with probabilistic stratified cluster sampling was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in the city of Campinas, Brazil. A total of 2145 individuals aged 18 years or older participated in the study. HRQoL was evaluated using the SF-36® questionnaire. The dependent variables were the score of the eight scales of the SF-36®. The independent variables were self-perceived emotional problems, type of emotional problem (according to ICD 10), degree of limitation, and perceived control of the problem with treatment. Mean scores were calculated and regression coefficients were adjusted for sex, age, number of health problems, and chronic diseases using multiple linear regression analysis. The prevalence of emotional problems was 32.7%. Among the individuals with a problem, the mean SF-36® scores were lower on all domains. Regarding the type of emotional problem, a complaint of depression exerted a stronger negative impact on HRQoL scores than anxiety. Moreover, a greater degree of limitation caused by the problem led to lower mean SF-36® scores. The negative impact on HRQoL was substantially greater among those who did not have the problem under control. In conclusion, the findings underscore the importance of the prevention and control of emotional problems with the aim of reducing the impact on HRQoL.

Background Considering the high socioeconomic inequalities prevailing in Brazil and lifestyle as a strong determinant of morbidity and premature mortality, our purpose was to evaluate the degree of socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of health behaviors among Brazilian adult population using data from the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey. Method Based on a sample of 49,025 individuals aged 20 to 59 years, we estimated the prevalence of several health behaviors and a score of unhealthy behaviors according to gender, education, race/color and possession of private health insurance. The prevalence ratios adjusted by age and gender were estimated by means of multiple Poisson regression and the analyses took into account the sampling design. Results Significant social inequalities were identified in the Brazilian adults. Higher prevalence of current smoking, leisure-time physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, whole milk consumption and low ingestion of greens, vegetables, and fruits were observed among the less educated, in the non-white population, and among those without private health insurance. Higher prevalence of heavy episodic drinking was found in the non-white population, but no difference in the consumption of fatty meat was found according to skin color. Score of unhealthy behavior higher than 6 was more frequent in lower educational strata (PR = 3.74) in the non-white population (PR = 1.39) and among those without private health insurance (PR = 1.78). Compared to women, men had higher prevalence rates of smoking, hazardous alcohol consumption, and fatty meat consumption and lower consumption of greens, vegetables and fruits. Conclusion The results of the study emphasize the importance of monitoring social inequalities in health as part of national health policies and the urgent need to prioritize actions to promote healthy behaviors, especially among the most socially vulnerable segments of society.