Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene (한국치위생학회지)

Korean Society of Dental Hygiene (한국치위생학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The relationship between socioeconomic status and oral health inequality in the elderly in Korea

한국 노인의 사회경제적 위치와 구강건강 불평등

  • Received : 2022.08.22
  • Accepted : 2022.09.05
  • Published : 2022.10.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to find a way to solve oral health inequality in old age by understanding the effect of the socioeconomic level of the elderly on oral health. Methods: We used data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A chi-square test was performed to investigate differences in oral health according to socioeconomic status and demographic and oral health-related factors. Socioeconomic status and oral health inequality were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: The average number of teeth in the elderly was 17.20, which is insufficient for the minimum number of teeth required for mastication. In the analysis of the correlation between socioeconomic status and oral health inequality, education level, income level, and home ownership were factors influencing the oral health of the elderly; education level was found to have the strongest effect. Conclusions: Oral health inequality according to socioeconomic status was confirmed, and it is necessary to measure the level of oral health inequality with active efforts at the government level to resolve the gap in oral health by social class.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Cheongam college research grants in 2022 (2022-07).

References

  1. Statistics Korea. Special estimate of future population: 2017~2067[Internet]. Statistics Korea; 2019. [cited2022 Mar 15]. Available from: http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/1/2/6/index.board?bmode=read&aSeq=373873.
  2. Health insurance review & assessment service. 2020 Medical Expense Statistical Index. Seoul: Health insurance review & assessment service; 2020:12.
  3. Ministry Health Welfare. Information on integrated health promotion projects forlocal communities in 2021. Seoul: Ministry Health Welfare; 2021:4-9.
  4. Kawachi I, Subramanian SV, Almeida-Filho N. A glossary for health inequalities. J Epidemiol Community Health 2002;56(9):647-52. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.56.9.647
  5. Jung-Choi KH, KimYM. Socioeconomic inequalities in health status in Korea. J Korean Med Assoc 2013;56(3):167-74. https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2013.56.3.167
  6. Cho HA, Shin HS. Dental care utilization patterns by the status of ADL and IADL in the elderly. J Korean Acad Oral Health 2015;39(2):102-9. https://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2015.39.2.102
  7. Takashi O, Motoyuki S, Masahiko K, Yoshinori H, Akito T, Atsushi H, et al. Determinants of the utilization of dental services in a community - dwelling elderly Japanesepopulation. Tohoku J Exp Med 2009;218(3):241-9. https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.218.241
  8. Sheiham A, Watt RG. The common risk factor approach: a rational basis for promoting oral health. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2000;28(6):399-406. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028006399.x
  9. Ahn ES, Hwang JM, Shin MS. Dental utilization associated factors among elderly. J Dent Hyg Sci 2015;15(1):60-6. https://doi.org/10.17135/jdhs.2015.15.1.60
  10. Jung EJ. Effects of general and oral health on quality of life in the elderly living alone and with family. J Korean SocDent Hyg 2019;19(4):577-89.https://doi.org/10.13065/jksdh.20190040
  11. Elias AC, Sheiham A. The relationship between satisfaction with mouth and number and position ofteeth. J Oral Rehabil 1998;25(9):649-61. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2842.1998.00313.x
  12. Chang SJ, Kim SY. The relationship between socioeconomic status and health inequality in laterlife:the mediation effects of psycho - social mechanisms. JKoreanGerontolSoc2016;36(3):611-32.
  13. Dunn JR, Veenstra G, Ross N. Psychosocial and neo - material dimensions of SES and health revisited: predictors of self - rated health in a Canadian national survey. Soc Sci Med 2006;62(6):1465-73.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.07.038
  14. Kim NH, Hwang SJ, Choi JA, Mun SJ, Chung WG. Quartile present teeth related socioeconomic status and oral health behaviors among Korean elderly. J KoreanAcad Oral Health 2009;33(2):254-66.
  15. Kim MJ, Lee HK. Relationship of dental health assessment to the number of existing permanent tooth in senior citizens visited a dental hospitalor clinic from some regions. J Dent Hyg Sci 2007;7(3):161-6.
  16. Jung EJ. Oral health status of the young-old and the old-old elderly in the vulnerable groups:data from the 7th(2016 - 2018)Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Korean Soc Dent Hyg 2020;20(6):831-41. https://doi.org/10.13065/jksdh.20200077
  17. Jeon JE, Chung WG, Kim NH. The reason of unmet dental need related socioeconomic status in Korea: using the 4th Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. J Korean Acad Oral Health 2012;36(1):73-81.
  18. Lee KE, Yom YH, Kim SS, Han JH. Gender differences in oral health literacy related factors among elderly people. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs 2014;25(1):54-64. https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2014.25.1.54
  19. Kim JB, Choi YJ, Moon HS, Kim JB, Kim DK, Lee HS, et al. Public oral health. 4th ed. Seoul: Komoonsa; 2009:312-7.
  20. Kim HN, Ha TG, Kim MJ, Jun EJ, Jeong SH, Kim JB. Factors related to number of present teeth in Korean elderly adults aged 55-84 years. Int J Dent Hyg 2016;14(2):151-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/idh.12151
  21. Ministry Health Welfare. 2016 Korea national health and nutrition examination survey. Seoul: Ministry Health Welfare; 2016:266.
  22. Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. 2018 National health insurance statistical yearbook[Internet]. Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service; 2018. [cited2022 Mar 15]. Available from: http://www.hira.or.kr/bbsDummy.do?pgmid=HIRAA020045020000&brdScnBltNo=4&brdBltNo=2311&pageIndex=1.
  23. Cho HJ. Equity in health care: current situation in South Korea. J Korean Med Assoc 2013;56(3):184-94. https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2013.56.3.184