J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2022 Sep;46(3):109-114. 10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.3.109.

Analysis of inequality trends in self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life of adults according to household income level using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Jung SH

• KMID: 2534100
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.3.109

Abstract

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to analyze the inequality trends in self-rated poor oral health, chewing discomfort, and speaking discomfort of adults according to the household income level using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
Methods
Data from 2007-2020 were downloaded from the KNHANES website and were integrated by year within each wave. The participants were 19 years old or over who responded to the oral health items of the questionnaire survey. Prevalence of self-rated poor oral health, chewing discomfort, and speaking discomfort were estimated according to the guidebook for data users. The age standardized rates were computed using the 2005 standard population. Absolute difference (AD) between the lowest and highest household income levels and the prevalence ratio (PR) as relative ratio were calculated.
Results
The prevalence of self-rated poor oral health decreased by 14.0%, but the AD increased by 3.0%, and the PR was enlarged in the lower household income level group. The prevalence of chewing discomfort and speaking discomfort decreased by 12.5% and 4.8%, respectively, but the AD of the two indicators persisted, and the PR was enlarged in the lower household income level group.
Conclusions
Self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life have improved overall over the past decade in Korean adults, but the severity remains, and the problem of equity has persisted or aggravated. Therefore, it is necessary to find an upstream approach to resolve the inequality in oral health in Korea.

Keyword

Adult; Household income; Inequality; Self-rated poor oral health; Speaking discomfort; The KNHANES

Reference

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