Abstract
Background
The level of health literacy can be a factor that influences the behaviors and health of individuals.
Objective
To analyze the perception of adults and the elderly on their behaviors and their oral health conditions according to their level of health literacy (HL).
Method
The qualitative study was carried out with adults and the elderly who participated in the “Piracicaba Adult Oral Health Cohort” and had been classified into three tooth loss profiles: 1) never having lost teeth; 2) incidence of tooth loss ≥ 4 teeth; 3) total toothlessness and the level of health literacy dichotomized in the median at high and low HL. There was a new home interview recorded using a script, and after transcription, content analysis was performed.
Results
The individuals, regardless of the HL level, identified risk and protective factors that were decisive in the oral health-disease process. However, individuals with low HL were more adept at risky behavior. The individual factors were preponderant for the understanding of his oral condition, either by the feeling of carelessness or by the feeling of responsibility for the lack of access to dental services, either by the socioeconomic or geographical aspect.
Conclusion
Individuals with high HL showed greater argumentative capacity and understanding of healthy behaviors, such as oral hygiene and regular use of dental services, regardless of the type of service used.
Keywords:
behavior; health literacy; oral health
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