Inequality in dental care expenditure in Iranian households: analysis of income quintiles and educational levels.
Concentration index
Dental care
Gini coefficient
Health care inequalities
Health expenditure
Journal
BMC oral health
ISSN: 1472-6831
Titre abrégé: BMC Oral Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088684
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
26 10 2021
26 10 2021
Historique:
received:
28
07
2021
accepted:
18
10
2021
entrez:
27
10
2021
pubmed:
28
10
2021
medline:
3
11
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Oral health is a major public health issue which affects the human life. Access to dental care is one of the important factors in maintaining oral health. This study was aimed to investigate inequality in dental care expenditure in Iranian households. The present study is a secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional survey. The data collected from the Households Income and Expenditure Survey in 2016 and 2017. The final sample consisted of 54,354 households living in rural and urban regions of all the provinces. Inequalities in household's dental care expenditure per capita in respect to income quintiles and educational level were measured based on the Gini coefficient and concentration index. The results showed that about 8% of households had paid for dental care during the month before sampling. The Gini coefficient value was estimated to be 0.97 and 0.96 for dental care expenditure per capita respectively in absolute and relative measure. It indicated a significant inequality in the dental expenditure among the sample households. The values of concentration index were positive and significant for all dental care subcategories in respect to the provincial and national income quintiles as well as the educational level of the head of the household. Income and educational inequality in the both absolute and relative dental services expenditure of the Iranian households were in favor of higher income groups as well as higher educational level of household heads. Income inequality was higher in total dental care expenditure per capita and all its subcategories than the educational inequalities of dental expenditure. In order to reduce these inequalities, the policymakers need to pay special attention to low-income households, particularly those with low-educated heads.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Oral health is a major public health issue which affects the human life. Access to dental care is one of the important factors in maintaining oral health. This study was aimed to investigate inequality in dental care expenditure in Iranian households.
METHODS
The present study is a secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional survey. The data collected from the Households Income and Expenditure Survey in 2016 and 2017. The final sample consisted of 54,354 households living in rural and urban regions of all the provinces. Inequalities in household's dental care expenditure per capita in respect to income quintiles and educational level were measured based on the Gini coefficient and concentration index.
RESULTS
The results showed that about 8% of households had paid for dental care during the month before sampling. The Gini coefficient value was estimated to be 0.97 and 0.96 for dental care expenditure per capita respectively in absolute and relative measure. It indicated a significant inequality in the dental expenditure among the sample households. The values of concentration index were positive and significant for all dental care subcategories in respect to the provincial and national income quintiles as well as the educational level of the head of the household.
CONCLUSIONS
Income and educational inequality in the both absolute and relative dental services expenditure of the Iranian households were in favor of higher income groups as well as higher educational level of household heads. Income inequality was higher in total dental care expenditure per capita and all its subcategories than the educational inequalities of dental expenditure. In order to reduce these inequalities, the policymakers need to pay special attention to low-income households, particularly those with low-educated heads.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34702242
doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01912-6
pii: 10.1186/s12903-021-01912-6
pmc: PMC8549140
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
550Informations de copyright
© 2021. The Author(s).
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