Faktori koji doprinose neostvarenim potrebama za stomatološkom zdravstvenom zaštitom kod odrasle populacije Srbije

Abstract

Introduction/objective: The concept of unmet needs refers to the distinction between the health services that are considered necessary to treat certain health problems and services that are actually obtained. The aim of the study was to identify whether there are demographic and socioeconomic differences between adults with unfulfilled and realized dental health needs in the Republic of Serbia in 2013. Methods: Within this secondary data analysis, data from the 2013 National Survey on Health of the Population of Serbia were used, conducted by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, as a cross-sectional study on a representative, stratified two-stage sample. The research was conducted in accordance with the methodology and instruments of the European Health Survey - Second Wave (EHIS-wave 2). The survey included 13,765 people aged 20 years and older. A ch2 test was used in the statistical analysis of the data. Results: Persons with unmet dental care are significantly more likely to be women, aged 45-54 and 55-64 years, unemployed, from Vojvodina and Belgrade, with poorer socio-economic status, as well as persons who are married, divorced/widowed/both and with basic and lower education level, compared to persons with met dental health care. Adult population who had unmet dental health care needs, compared to those whose needs were met their, significantly rated their oral health as average or poor. Conclusion: Detecting factors associated with unmet dental health care needs are important for creating health interventions that would contribute to better use of dental health care in different population groups.