Access to information on how to avoid oral health problems among elderly persons registered with the Family Health Strategy

Objectives : To identify the level of access to information regarding how to prevent oral health problems among the elderly, and verify if such levels were higher among members of households registered with the Family Health Strategy Program. Methods : An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted of a probabilistic complex sample of elderly (65-74 years old) members of the population of a large city. The level of access was estimated with adjustment for the design effect, as well as the magnitudes of association. Descriptive, bivariate and logistic regression (OR/CI95%) analysis was performed. Variables related to personal determinants, health services, health-related behavior and health outcomes were considered. Results : Of the 490 participants, 53.4% reported they had access to information about how to prevent oral health problems. This access was higher among elderly persons living in a household registered with the Family Health Strategy Program (2.04/1.14-3.67), and who had at least five years of schooling (2.53/1.67-3.83), regularly used dental services (1.84/1.07-3.17), did not smoke either now or in the past (1.79/1.13-2.82), did not suffer from chronic diseases (2.14/1.34-3.42) and had not suffered social impacts because of their oral health conditions (1.77/1.08-2.91). Conclusion : Most of the elderly persons had access to information about how to prevent oral health problems, with such access being greater among those registered with the Family Health Strategy Program. Objetivos: Identificar a prevalência do acesso a informações sobre como evitar problemas bucais entre idosos e verificar se esse acesso foi maior entre os residentes em domicílios cadastrados na Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Método: Estudo transversal analítico conduzido a partir de amostra probabilística complexa por conglomerado de idosos (65-74 anos) de um município de grande porte populacional. Foi estimada a prevalência do acesso com correções pelo efeito de desenho, além das magnitudes das associações, sendo conduzidas análises descritivas, bivariadas e regressão logística (OR/IC95%). Considerou-se variáveis referentes aos determinantes pessoais, serviços de saúde, comportamentos relacionados à saúde e desfechos de saúde. Resultados: Dentre os 490 participantes, 53,4% relataram o acesso a informações sobre como evitar problemas bucais. Esse acesso foi maior entre os idosos que residiam em domicílio cadastrado na ESF (2,04/1,14-3,67), tinham maior escolaridade (2,