Income-based inequalities in dental service utilization: A multiple mediation analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

With elimination of the financial burden of dental services, one can expect an increase in utilization of dental services. This study aimed to investigate the effective mechanisms of financial barriers to the utilization of dental services in an Australian adult population.

Methods

South Australian survey data from the Dental Care and Oral Health Study (2015) were analysed. Following the flexible mediation approach, the direct effect of income and indirect effect of income through mediators (insurance, concession card and service sector) on the outcomes (visit avoidance and treatment prevention due to the cost) were calculated.

Results

Findings showed that around half of the low-income people and one-third of the high-income South Australians experienced a

SUBMITTER: Ghanbarzadegan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10947098 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature