Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between oral health literacy and family, sociodemographic and dental service characteristics in early adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 schoolchildren. The following variables were investigated using validated questionnaires: oral health literary (BREALD-30), sociodemographic characteristics, type of dental service and family functioning (FACES III). Associations were tested using robust Poisson regression analysis (α=5%). Higher oral health literacy was associated with the female sex (RR=1.09; 95%CI: 1.03-1.14), connected type of family cohesion (RR=1.12; 95%CI: 1.05-1.20), rigid (RR=1.14; 95%CI: 1.04-1.25) and structured (RR=1.11; 95%CI: 1.04-1.20) types of family adaptability, more than eight years of mother’s schooling (RR=1.16; 95%CI: 1.10-1.22), age of caregiver more than 38 years (RR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.02-1.13) and the use of private dental services (RR=1.06; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12). The level of oral health literacy in early adolescents was associated with sex, family structure, mother’s schooling, caregiver’s age and type of dental service used.
Key words:
Oral Health; Health literacy; Adolescent health; Adolescent; Family relations