Search

This cross-sectional study evaluated factors associated with toothache in 12-year-old adolescents from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Secondary data were collected from the SB Minas Gerais 2012 epidemiological survey. The dependent variable was toothache in the past 6 months. The independent variables were grouped into two levels: individual (sex, ethnic group, family income, periodontal condition, dental caries, dental treatment needs, and type of service used) and contextual (allocation factor, Human Development Index, Gini coefficient, gross domestic product, unemployment, illiteracy, basic sanitation, garbage collection, family income, half or a quarter of a minimum wage, primary healthcare coverage, primary oral healthcare team coverage, oral health technician, access to individual dental care, and supervised tooth brushing). A multilevel analysis was performed using the Hierarchical Linear and Nonlinear Modeling Software Program to assess the association of individual and contextual variables with toothache in the last 6 months. The prevalence of toothache in the last six months among the adolescents of this study was 19.1%. An association was found with family income (p <0.001), dental caries (p <0.001), primary oral healthcare team coverage (p = 0.015) and oral health technician (p = 0.008). Socioeconomic conditions and the most prevalent oral diseases, such as dental caries, as well as the use of public services, were related to toothache in adolescents aged 12 years. These findings reinforce the need to develop and implement public policies to address the oral health problems of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the development stage of the oral health care network of the Brazilian Unified Health System in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was conducted with 205 municipal oral health coordinators from the state. Data collection was carried out through a validated questionnaire to analyze the state of development of the oral health care network. Descriptive and cluster analysis were performed, and two clusters were generated.Results: The total median score of the questionnaires classified Minas Gerais as a state with incipient oral health care networks and a minimal capacity to operate such networks, reflected in the predominance of cluster 1 in the sample. There was no statistical association between age, time since graduation, and time spent working as a coordinator and the clusters (Mann-Whitney test). The coordinators' gender and educational level were also not statistically associated with the clusters (Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact, respectively).Conclusion: There is a great need to improve the organization of services of the oral health care network in Minas Gerais. This can be done through improvements in its operational structure, as well as investment in management training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]