Robert Atkins1, Michael J Sulik, Daniel Hart. 1. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Nursing and Childhood Studies, Camden, NJ 08102, USA. robert.atkins@rutgers.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which neighborhood poverty was associated with the utilization of dental care by American adolescents. METHODS: To accomplish the study goals we conducted multilevel modeling analyses of two nationally representative data sets: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K). RESULTS: As hypothesized, neighborhood poverty predicted frequency of dental care in both studies (t = 6.06; P < 0.001; t = 2.44; P < 0.05). Even after accounting for individual level predictors such as household income, health insurance, and parental education, adolescents living in poor neighborhoods are less likely than their counterparts in non-poor neighborhoods to utilize dental care. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study indicate that neighborhoods influence dental care utilization patterns in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which neighborhood poverty was associated with the utilization of dental care by American adolescents. METHODS: To accomplish the study goals we conducted multilevel modeling analyses of two nationally representative data sets: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K). RESULTS: As hypothesized, neighborhood poverty predicted frequency of dental care in both studies (t = 6.06; P < 0.001; t = 2.44; P < 0.05). Even after accounting for individual level predictors such as household income, health insurance, and parental education, adolescents living in poor neighborhoods are less likely than their counterparts in non-poor neighborhoods to utilize dental care. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study indicate that neighborhoods influence dental care utilization patterns in adolescents.
Authors: V R Aggarwal; S Pavitt; J Wu; B Nattress; P Franklin; J Owen; D Wood; K Vinall-Collier Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2019-12-21 Impact factor: 2.655