Socioeconomic inequalities in use and non-use of dental services in Poland.

Authors :: Piotrowska DE
Jankowska D
Huzarska D
Szpak AS
Pędziński B
Source :: International journal of public health [Int J Public Health] 2020 Jun; Vol. 65 (5), pp. 637-647. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 May 09.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Objectives: To assess the impact of classical socioeconomic factors on the use and non-use of dental services on a representative sample of Polish population.<br />Methods: The study was based on face-to-face surveys conducted by GUS (Statistics Poland) on 13,376 respondents in 2010 and 12,532 individuals in 2013.<br />Results: The percentage of people using dental services in the highest income group was approximately twice as high as that in the lowest one (Q1: 7.0% vs. Q5: 16.4%), with the same being true for education (the lowest education group: 8.3% vs. the highest education group: 18.0%), and place of residence (inhabitants of rural areas: 9.2% vs. inhabitants of largest cities: 15.9%) in 2013. The analysis has shown the disparities in not using dental services when in need to be less clear-cut.<br />Conclusions: The conducted research, based on two independent periods, a representative population sample, univariate analysis and the multivariate regression model has revealed pronounced social inequalities in dental care use. It is a challenge to determine the factors which contribute most to health inequalities and the interventions which are most effective in reducing them.