Associated factors to SARS-CoV-2 infection among dental professionals

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze associated factor to SARS-CoV-2 infection among dental professionals. This was a cross-sectional study carried out from February to September 2020 in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil. We included all dental team working at 11 basic health units. Professionals included were from the three different categories oral surgeon-dentist, dental technician, dental assistant. The analysis included SARS-CoV-2 infection and independent variables (sociodemographic, labor and behavior) with descriptive analyses with absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies, inferential analysis by chi-squared and Fisher exact test (p < 0.05). There was a prevalence of 20.3% of infection by SARS-CoV-2 between dental professionals. However, in the analysis by professional category the infection rate was 3.8 among oral surgeon-dentist, 30.0% among dental technician, 33.3% for dental assistant. The diagnostic of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with lower income (p = 0.027), lower level of formal education (p = 0.011), technical professional category (p = 0.025), and the use of public transportation (p = 0.009). The higher prevalence of COVID-19 in technical professionals than oral surgeon-dentists may suggest that infection had occurred outside the working environment, once professional had personal protective equipment available as well as the training for their professional activity. In addition, professionals reported to feel safe and prepared to perform their activities in the work environment.Key messages Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in oral health in the public service.Promotion and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in oral health in the public service.