263200 Access to preventive dental care by Midwest children with special health care needs

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 4:55 PM - 5:20 PM

Christopher Stanley, MPH students , University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
Simi Mani , Department of Preventative Medicine, Kansas University School of Medicine, Wichita, KS
Deshani Perera , Department of Preventative Medicine, Kansas University School of Medicine, Wichita, KS
Frank Dong, PhD , Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, MPH , Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
Approximately 14% of all children in the United States have special health care needs. Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are often at greater risk for dental problems. Previous studies have identified dental care as a primary unmet health care need among this group. Little is known about the impact of rural residence on the level of unmet oral health care needs among CSHCN. Therefore, CSHCN in rural areas may face a greater risk for oral health neglect. We analyzed data from the 2005-2006 National Survey of CSHCN by using a sample of 39364 CSHCN aged 2 to 17 years. Independent random samples were taken in all 50 states and the District of Columbia by a national telephone survey. A multilevel stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the level of unmet oral healthcare needs. The average age for the selected subpopulation was 11.56 years (SD=3.7). Ninety percent (90%) of respondents (n=6951 of 7700) needed preventive dental care including checkups, but only 40% of respondents (n=176 of 435) actually received care. The multilevel stepwise logistic regression result indicated three variables were the main barriers to access: children refused to go (p-value=0.0144), age (p-value=0.0355), inside or outside metropolitan statistical area (MSA) (p-value=0.0141). There was no significant difference among the states in the Midwest. Primary barriers for Midwest CSHCN differ from the national level. Health policy to improve access should address these regional concerns along with national needs.

Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the level of unmet oral health care among rural Midwest children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and how this level of unmet need compares to Midwest CSHCN as a whole as well as the national level

Keywords: Oral Health Needs, Barriers to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a bachelors degree in dental science from India and have practiced dentistry for more than 2 years. I am currently pursuing Masters in Public Health at KU Medical School. I have taken classes such as Public Health Data Management, Advanced Epidemiology and Bio-Statistics. This paper has been completed with guidance of my faculty Dr. Frank Dong and Dr. Elizabeth Ablah.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.