Socioeconomic Disparities in Oral Health Practices: Insights From a Cohort Study in Southwestern Iran
-
Ahmad Tahmasebi-Ghorrabi
,
Zahra Rahimi
,
Saeed Bagheri Faradonbeh
,
Hojat Allah Yosefimanesh
,
Amin Torabipour
Abstract
Introduction: Iran faces a high burden of oral disease loads, including decay, gum issues, and loss, prevalent across all age groups. The present investigation explored disparities related to socioeconomic factors in oral health practices among adults aged 35–70 years from the Hoveyzeh cohort in Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted within a population framework and included 10,009 individuals from the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study (HCS). Information was gathered on demographic characteristics, economic status, and oral health routines. In addition, living conditions were evaluated using a wealth index derived from household possessions, with favorable oral health defined as tooth brushing at least twice a day. Moreover, inequality in socioeconomic terms was quantified through the concentration index (CI), while a decomposition method pinpointed underlying elements. Finally, the statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 14.
Results: Participants averaged 48.76 years in age, comprising 59.78% females and 87.52% married. Urban dwellers predominated at 70%, with 20.87% and 1.97% reporting tobacco use and alcohol intake, respectively. Favorable oral health practices remained scarce, as merely 12.87% engaged in recommended routines, 4.87% utilized rinses, and 2.73% employed floss. The CI of 0.180 signaled superior practices among affluent groups. The key drivers of disparity included economic position (42.9%), living location (27.6%), schooling attainment (38.16%), and chronological age (4.50%).
Conclusion: The findings underscore suboptimal oral health routines, notably in less privileged strata, advocating for strengthened initiatives in prevention and learning to elevate outcomes in deprived zones.
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| Issue | Vol 10 No 1 (2026) | |
| Section | Articles | |
| Keywords | ||
| Socioeconomic status Oral health behaviors Concentration index Decomposition C | ||
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