Abstract The association between income inequality and dental caries on early childhood in Colombia was evaluated using a multi-level analysis. We analyzed data from the latest national oral survey (2014) and information about income in absolute and relative terms on a state-level. The outcomes were caries experience, and untreated caries. A multilevel logistic regression model was used (2 levels) with children/households nested within states. Age, gender, area-level socioeconomic position (SEP), household income and health insurance regime were the level 1 explanatory variables. For level 2, variables were the Gini coefficient, Unsatisfied Basic Needs (UBN) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Data from 5.250 children, aged 1, 3 and 5 years were evaluated. Prevalence of caries experience and untreated caries was 36.9% and 33.0% respectively. Both outcomes showed significant associations with age, low SEP and belonging to the subsidized health insurance regime: untreated dental caries was associated with living in low and very low SEP (OR: 1.72; 95%CI 1.42, 2.07 and OR: 1.69; 95%CI 1.36, 2.09 respectively), and subsidized health insurance scheme (OR: 1.58; 95%CI 1.11, 2.24). When the Gini, GDP and UBN indicators were included in the models, no significant associations were found.

Resumen Evaluamos la asociación entre inequidad en los ingresos y caries de la infancia temprana en Colombia, utilizando un análisis multinivel. Analizamos datos del último estudio nacional de salud bucal (2014) e información sobre ingresos en términos absolutos y relativos a nivel departamental. Los desenlaces fueron experiencia de caries y caries no tratada. Se utilizó un modelo de regresión logística multinivel con dos niveles: niños/familias (nivel 1) anidados en departamentos (nivel 2). En el nivel 1 se consideraron variables de edad, sexo, posición socioeconómica (PSE) de la vivienda, ingresos del hogar y régimen de aseguramiento en salud. Para el nivel 2 las variables fueron coeficiente Gini, Necesidades Básicas Insatisfechas (NBI) y Producto Interno Bruto (PIB). Se evaluaron datos de 5.250 niños de 1, 3 y 5 años, 36.9% tenían experiencia de caries y 33.0% caries no tratada. Los desenlaces mostraron asociaciones significativas con edad, PSE baja del hogar y pertenecer al régimen subsidiado de salud. Para caries no tratada se encontraron asociaciones con PSE baja o muy baja (OR: 1.72; IC95% 1.42, 2.07 y OR: 1.69; IC95% 1.36, 2.09 respectivamente) y régimen subsidiado de salud (OR: 1.58; IC95% 1.11, 2.24). No se encontraron asociaciones significativas con indicadores de coeficiente Gini, PIB y NBI.

Abstract The association between income inequality and dental caries on early childhood in Colombia was evaluated using a multi-level analysis. We analyzed data from the latest national oral survey (2014) and information about income in absolute and relative terms on a state-level. The outcomes were caries experience, and untreated caries. A multilevel logistic regression model was used (2 levels) with children/households nested within states. Age, gender, area-level socioeconomic position (SEP), household income and health insurance regime were the level 1 explanatory variables. For level 2, variables were the Gini coefficient, Unsatisfied Basic Needs (UBN) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Data from 5.250 children, aged 1, 3 and 5 years were evaluated. Prevalence of caries experience and untreated caries was 36.9% and 33.0% respectively. Both outcomes showed significant associations with age, low SEP and belonging to the subsidized health insurance regime: untreated dental caries was associated with living in low and very low SEP (OR: 1.72; 95%CI 1.42, 2.07 and OR: 1.69; 95%CI 1.36, 2.09 respectively), and subsidized health insurance scheme (OR: 1.58; 95%CI 1.11, 2.24). When the Gini, GDP and UBN indicators were included in the models, no significant associations were found.

Resumen Evaluamos la asociación entre inequidad en los ingresos y caries de la infancia temprana en Colombia, utilizando un análisis multinivel. Analizamos datos del último estudio nacional de salud bucal (2014) e información sobre ingresos en términos absolutos y relativos a nivel departamental. Los desenlaces fueron experiencia de caries y caries no tratada. Se utilizó un modelo de regresión logística multinivel con dos niveles: niños/familias (nivel 1) anidados en departamentos (nivel 2). En el nivel 1 se consideraron variables de edad, sexo, posición socioeconómica (PSE) de la vivienda, ingresos del hogar y régimen de aseguramiento en salud. Para el nivel 2 las variables fueron coeficiente Gini, Necesidades Básicas Insatisfechas (NBI) y Producto Interno Bruto (PIB). Se evaluaron datos de 5.250 niños de 1, 3 y 5 años, 36.9% tenían experiencia de caries y 33.0% caries no tratada. Los desenlaces mostraron asociaciones significativas con edad, PSE baja del hogar y pertenecer al régimen subsidiado de salud. Para caries no tratada se encontraron asociaciones con PSE baja o muy baja (OR: 1.72; IC95% 1.42, 2.07 y OR: 1.69; IC95% 1.36, 2.09 respectivamente) y régimen subsidiado de salud (OR: 1.58; IC95% 1.11, 2.24). No se encontraron asociaciones significativas con indicadores de coeficiente Gini, PIB y NBI.