Individual and Contextual Factors Associated with Adolescents' Self-Perceived Need for Treatment

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 21; no. 4; p. 395
• Main Authors: Lopes, Roanny Torres, Neves, Érick Tássio Barbosa, da Costa Dutra, Laio, Firmino, Ramon Targino, de Lima, Larissa Chaves Morais, Paiva, Saul Martins, Ferreira, Fernanda Morais, Granville-Garcia, Ana Flávia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24-03-2024
• Subjects: Adaptability; Adolescent; Brazil; Cavitation; Child development; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Dental caries; Dental insurance; Female; Humans; Influence; Male; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Perceptions; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Sample size; Schools; Self Concept; Self image; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Teeth; Toothache - psychology; Young Adult; Brazil; dental health services; adolescent; oral health; family relations; schools
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040395

The present study aimed to investigate associations between the self-perceived dental treatment need and clinical factors, familial characteristics, and school context in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 746 students aged 15 to 19 years in a medium-sized city in Brazil. Data collection involved the use of a sociodemographic questionnaire, an oral health questionnaire, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACES III) instrument. Clinical examinations were performed by two trained and calibrated examiners (Kappa > 0.80) using the Nyvad criteria. A robust logistic regression analysis for complex samples was performed using a multilevel approach (α = 5%). The individual factors associated with the self-perceived treatment need were dental pain (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.16), the loss of the first molars (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.15), and disengaged family cohesion (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01-1.31). In terms of context, attending a public school was associated with the self-perceived treatment need (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02-1.33). Thus, the individual factors of toothache, tooth loss, and a disengaged family, as well as the school context, exerted an influence on the self-perceived treatment need.