Oral Health Inequalities

Aim

To understand the patterns, mechanisms and impacts of oral health inequalities to inform the development and feasibility testing of public health interventions to promote oral health equity in each country.

Objectives

  • To conduct secondary analysis of existing national oral health survey data sets to determine the pattern of socioeconomic inequalities in oral health in each partner country and, neighbouring countries across South America, Africa and South-East Asia. Subject to data availability. (Study 1.1)

  • To conduct qualitative interviews in a sample of adults from disadvantaged and marginalised groups in each country to explore their experiences of oral diseases, its impact on their daily lives, and their use and views of local dental services. (Study 1.2)

  • To determine the relative effectiveness of different upstream public health interventions on reducing oral health inequalities in LMICs. Simulation modelling techniques will be used with national oral health survey data sets. (Study 1.3)

  • To co-develop and assess the feasibility and acceptability of public health interventions to reduce oral health inequalities in disadvantaged and marginalised populations in each country. (Study 1.4)