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Dental utilization by low-income mothers
R A Kuthy1, J G Odom, P J Salsberry
1Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus 43210-1241, USA. kuthy.1@osu.edu
Journal of Public Health Dentistry
|June 3, 1998
Summary
Low-income mothers
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- Understanding factors influencing healthcare access is crucial for vulnerable populations.
- This study focuses on dental care utilization among low-income mothers.
- It is a substudy examining self-reported health status, utilization, access, and satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of predisposing, enabling, and need variables on dental care seeking behavior in low-income mothers.
- To identify key determinants of dental service utilization in the past year.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample of 502 mothers and their youngest child (under 6) participated.
- Data were collected via face-to-face questionnaires in Ohio between November 1995 and July 1996.
- Logistic regression models analyzed the relationship between demographic/need variables and dental care seeking.
Main Results:
- Less than half of the mothers sought dental care in the past year.
- Medicaid coverage significantly increased the likelihood of a dental visit (2.7 times).
- Mothers perceiving a dental need were less likely to receive care compared to those with no perceived need.
Conclusions:
- Source of payment (Medicaid) and perceived need are significant factors in dental care utilization for low-income women.
- Even within a similar demographic group, these variables differentiate access to dental services.
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