Abstract
ABSTRACTOBJECTIVEEvaluate socio-demographic, family and behavioral factors associated with oral health literacy (OHL) in adolescents.METHODSCross-sectional study conducted with adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data. The adolescents answered validated instruments on family cohesion and adaptability (family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale), drug use (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test), type of dental service used for last appointment and OHL (Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Oral Health Literacy in Dentistry). Two dentists were trained to evaluate OHL (K = 0.87–0.88). Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by Poisson regression analysis (α = 5%). A directed acyclic graph was used to select independent variables in the study.RESULTSThe following variables remained associated with better OHL: high mother’s schooling level (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.03–1.12), high income (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01–1.09), white ethnicity/skin color (RR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01–1.10), married parents (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01–1.09), “enmeshed” family cohesion (RR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.12–1.30), “structured” (RR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.01–1.12) or “rigid” (RR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.04–1.19) family adaptability, having more than five residents in the home (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01–1.14) and having used a private dental service during the last appointment (RR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.03–1.13).CONCLUSIONFamily functioning and socio-demographic factors influence the level of oral health literacy among adolescents.
Highlights
Oral health literacy (OHL) is the ability to understand and interpret information on dental care to maintain good oral health
The following variables remained associated with better OHL: high mother’s schooling level (RR = 1.07; 95%confidence intervals (CI): 1.03–1.12), high income (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01–1.09), white ethnicity/skin color (RR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01–1.10), married parents (RR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01–1.09), “enmeshed” family cohesion (RR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.12–1.30), “structured” (RR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.01–1.12) or “rigid” (RR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.04–1.19) family adaptability, having more than five residents in the home (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01–1.14) and having used a private dental service during the last appointment (RR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.03–1.13)
Family functioning and socio-demographic factors influence the level of oral health literacy among adolescents
Summary
Oral health literacy (OHL) is the ability to understand and interpret information on dental care to maintain good oral health. OHL has been associated with oral health-related behaviors and dental outcomes[1]. A direct association between oral problems and OHL has not yet been consolidated in the literature[2]. This association is believed to be influenced by other aspects that act as intermediary factors in the process. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Oral Health Literacy (REALD-30) was designed as a screening tool for individuals with low OHL in different contexts. The Brazilian version (BREALD-30) has proven to be reliable, is easy to administer and has good psychometric properties for use on adults[3] and adolescents[4] in the country
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