Search

The analysis of social inequality is one of the predominant concerns of sociology. Inequalities in general health or utilization of health care services are nearly universal. The purpose of the paper is to describe inequalities in dental health in Denmark. Recent empirical findings are reviewed. Longitudinal data on the number of adults with few or no teeth left show remarkable differences between low and high social classes in 1976 and 1986. Among the younger individuals some reduction in the social differences has been observed over time This was ascribed to the establishment of a public child dental health service. The level of dental caries and unmet treatment need is higher among workers than officials. Studies of industrial workers also indicate that dental illness or diseases are induced by environmental working factors. The association between health-related behavior and dental health status has been demonstrated as well as the effects of social network relations and lifestyle. Finally, theoretical explanations of the inequalities in dental health are outlined: artefact explanations, theories of natural or social selection, materialist or structuralist explanations, and cultural/behavioral explanations. Arguments for the relevance of the materialist/structuralist and the cultural/behavioral approaches are given and a combined model on dental health is presented. The practical implications of the various models are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives We used data from the TalaSurvey study to examine associations between dental health experiences, social network characteristics, and levels of behavioral and psychological acculturation in one location in the American Midwest. Methods Starting in parishes and community organizations, we identified adults of Mexican origin living in Indianapolis, who were 1st- or 2nd-generation immigrants from Tala, Mexico. Using a social networks methodology and following extensive formative research, we created an egocentric social network survey and administered it via face-to-face interviews. We identified the peers (alters) in interviewees' (egos) personal networks. We asked egos about multiple oral health and dental care variables for self and for alters. Acculturation (psychological and behavioral) was measured with a validated tool. Through logistic and negative binomial regression, we examined the effects of acculturation and network composition on ego's dental insurance status, dental office visits, and the reason for most recent dental office visit. Results A total of 332 egos (mean age 36; 63% female) were interviewed: 90% were born in Mexico; 45% had completed elementary school or lower; and most had low income. Each ego named 3.9 ( SD±1.9) alters in his/her personal network, for a total of 1299 alters (mean age 39; 61% female). Both behavioral acculturation and psychological acculturation were moderately associated with dental insurance coverage, and greater behavioral acculturation predicted more frequent dental care. More psychologically acculturated egos were more likely to seek preventive care. Further, egos with more highly educated networks sought care more frequently and for preventive purposes, net of ego's own education and acculturation. Conclusions This study contextualizes acculturation of Mexican Americans within the personal networks in which oral health discussion takes place. The findings underscore the critical importance of acculturation and social network factors in shaping a subgroup of Latinos' orientation toward dental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Social capital incorporates neighbourhood and individual levels of interactions and influences health. The objective of this was to assess the association of neighbourhood and individual social capital with oral health-related quality of life ( OHRQo L) in pregnant and postpartum women. Methods This was a follow-up prevalence multilevel study on a representative sample of 1248 women grouped into 55 neighbourhoods. OHRQo L was assessed in the postpartum period using the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire ( OHIP-14). Exploratory variables were gathered during the first trimester of pregnancy and included neighbourhood social capital (neighbourhood-level measure), individual social capital (social support and social networks), demographic and socio-economic variables, oral health measures, and health-related behaviours. Results The multilevel ordered multinomial logistic regression showed that neighbourhood social capital did not significantly affect women's OHRQo L during pregnancy and postpartum period. Individual social capital measures were independently associated with high OHRQoL. Lack of family social network increased the odds for high OHRQoL ( OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.08-1.92). Individuals with high levels of positive social interaction were less likely to report high scores of OHRQoL ( OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.98). Conclusion Individual social capital was of greater relevance to women's OHRQo L in and after pregnancy than neighbourhood social capital. These findings suggest that quality of personal and social resources of pregnant women are more important for OHRQo L than the neighbourhoods where the women live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which developed scales measuring aspects of social support, trust, and community among dentists. The study involved the distribution of questionnaires in 2008 to 1,835 general dental practitioners from the dental associations in Sweden and Denmark. Results revealed stability and internal consistency of the scales as satisfactory with content validity and construct validity considered as good.