Oral Health Care Utilization after the 5-year Universal Health Care Coverage Implementation in Thailand

Abstract

The objective of the study was to analyze the utilization of oral health care in Thai population in 2006, 5 years after the Universal Health Care Coverage has been implemented. Oral health service utilization was analyzed and categorized by age group, health insurance scheme, domicile, and income. Data was retrieved from the Health and Welfare Survey 2007 which was collected by household questionnaire survey in April 2007 by the National Statistic Office. In all, 69,679 residents were selected by stratified two-stage sampling.

During May 2006 - April 2007, 8.69 percent of the Thai population accessed oral health care service or 0.13 visit per capita on average which slightly decreased from Health and Welfare Survey 2003 (10.19% or 0.16 visit per capita). In the municipality, female group tended to utilize oral health care more frequently than those lived in rural area or male living in any area. Universal Health Care Coverage Scheme’s beneficiaries had comparatively lowest utilization rate, 7.57 percent or 0.11 visit per capita. Community hospital and private clinic were the most common facilities providing oral health care services. Long waiting time and limited coverage benefit package were common barriers of their recent uses of the services. Finally, “No any oral symptom or illness” was the most common answer for those who did not utilize any oral care.