Dental equipments and supplies and their association with primary health care units

• Published in: Revista brasileira em promoção da saúde = Brazilian journal in health promotion 2016-01, Vol.29 (1), p.84
• Main Authors: Nayara Pereira Limão, Julio Cesar Campos Ferreira Filho, Ane Polline Lacerda Protásio, Bianca Marques Santiago, Luciano Bezerra Gomes, Liliane dos Santos Machado, Ana Maria Gondim Valença
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autoclaves; Autoclaving; Certificates of need; Dental materials; Health care; Health care facilities; Primary care; Reflectors; Sealants
• ISSN: 1806-1222; 1806-1230
• DOI: 10.5020/18061230.2016.p84

Objective: To analyze the association between dental equipment/supplies and primary health care units. Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional study carried out in health care centers (n=243) and Primary Health Care Units (PHU) (n=1101), in the 16 Regional Health Divisions of the state of Paraíba, Brazil, in 2012 and the first semester of 2013. Secondary data about dental equipment and supplies was collected in the health units. Data emerged from questions on oral health of the National Program for Access and Quality Improvement in Primary Care (PMAQ). The t-Student and chi-square tests (p=0.05) were applied. Results: A reduced number of dental equipment and supplies was found, such as autoclaves in proper conditions for use in only 27.2% (n=66) of the health care centers and 29.0% (n=319) of the PHU; and sealants in sufficient quantity only in 31.7% (n=77) of the health care centers and 30.7% (n=338) of the PHU. There are differences between the kinds of health facilities and the availability of materials and equipment, such as reflectors (p