Oral Care Utilization among Children Aged 5-14 Years in 2011 and 2013

Abstract

This study aimed to compare oral care utilization between children aged 5-14 years under the Civil Servant Medical Benefit System (CSMBS) and the Universal Health Coverage System (UCS), using the data of 2011 and 2013 Health and Welfare Surveys. Members form 26,520 and 27,960 households selected by stratified two-stage sampling were interviewed which were 10,489 and 9,858 persons aged 5-14 years respectively. The data were weighted to represent the national population. According to the 2013 surveys, children in both systems had higher rate and frequency of oral care utilization. The CSMBS group had higher utilization in all regions, especially in Bangkok. The difference of utilization rate and frequencies between the 2 systems increased 5.3% and 12.0% respectively, resulting from higher access to private care by the CSMBS group. The utilization differences were also observed among sexes, regions and areas. The UCS group had lower utilization proportion on oral health promotion, diseases prevention, and permanent tooth preservation despite the long implementation of over a decade as well as the explicit benefit package covering oral health promotion, diseases prevention and basic treatment; having school based and district services; and the launching of the dental fund.