BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated racial/ethnic differences and their socioeconomic determinants in the oral health status of U.S. children, as reported by parents. METHODS: The authors used interview data from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, a large representative survey of U.S. children. They calculated weighted, nationally representative prevalence estimates for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics, and they used logistic regression to explore the association between parents' reports of fair or poor oral health and various socioeconomic determinants of oral health. RESULTS: The results showed significant racial/ethnic differences in parental reports of fair or poor oral health, with prevalences of 6.5 percent for non-Hispanic whites, 12.0 percent for non-Hispanic blacks and 23.4 percent for Hispanics. Although adjustments for family socioeconomic status (poverty level and education) partially explained these racial/ethnic disparities, Hispanics still were twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to report their children's oral health as fair or poor, independent of socioeconomic status. The authors did find differences in preventive-care attitudes among groups. However, in multivariate models, such differences did not explain the disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in parental reports of their children's oral health, with Hispanics being the most disadvantaged group. Disparities appear to exist independent of preventive-care attitudes and socioeconomic status.
BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated racial/ethnic differences and their socioeconomic determinants in the oral health status of U.S. children, as reported by parents. METHODS: The authors used interview data from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, a large representative survey of U.S. children. They calculated weighted, nationally representative prevalence estimates for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics, and they used logistic regression to explore the association between parents' reports of fair or poor oral health and various socioeconomic determinants of oral health. RESULTS: The results showed significant racial/ethnic differences in parental reports of fair or poor oral health, with prevalences of 6.5 percent for non-Hispanic whites, 12.0 percent for non-Hispanic blacks and 23.4 percent for Hispanics. Although adjustments for family socioeconomic status (poverty level and education) partially explained these racial/ethnic disparities, Hispanics still were twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to report their children's oral health as fair or poor, independent of socioeconomic status. The authors did find differences in preventive-care attitudes among groups. However, in multivariate models, such differences did not explain the disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in parental reports of their children's oral health, with Hispanics being the most disadvantaged group. Disparities appear to exist independent of preventive-care attitudes and socioeconomic status.
Authors: Roger Zoorob; Maciej S Buchowski; Bettina M Beech; Juan R Canedo; Rameela Chandrasekhar; Sylvie Akohoue; Pamela C Hull Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2013-04-26 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Susan A Fisher-Owens; Inyang A Isong; Mah-J Soobader; Stuart A Gansky; Jane A Weintraub; Larry J Platt; Paul W Newacheck Journal: J Public Health Dent Date: 2012-09-13 Impact factor: 1.821
Authors: Inyang A Isong; Mah-J Soobader; Susan A Fisher-Owens; Jane A Weintraub; Stuart A Gansky; Larry J Platt; Paul W Newacheck Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2012-07-02 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Pamela C Hull; Michelle C Reece; Marian Patton; Janice Williams; Bettina M Beech; Juan R Canedo; Roger Zoorob Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2013-04-24 Impact factor: 3.380