Socioeconomic inequalities in toothbrushing behaviours in young children: a children’s lifestyle survey in a representative population of A city, Okinawa prefecture, Japan

• Published in: European archives of paediatric dentistry 2022-12, Vol.23 (6), p.969-977
• Main Authors: Kyan, A., Takakura, M., Kamiya, Y., Kinjo, N., Nakasone, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age groups; Behavior; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Dental caries; Dentistry; Education; Families & family life; Family income; Finishing; Fluorides; Health Status Disparities; Households; Humans; Income; Indicators; Japan - epidemiology; Life Style; Low income groups; Male; Maternal & child health; Medicine; Oral hygiene; Original Scientific Article; Parents; Parents & parenting; Preschool education; Questionnaires; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic status; Teeth; Toothbrushing; Trends
• ISSN: 1818-6300; 1996-9805
• DOI: 10.1007/s40368-022-00751-5

Purpose We have less understanding of which socioeconomic status (SES) indicators may be reflective of latent socioeconomic inequalities in toothbrushing behaviours, especially finishing-toothbrushing by parents in young children. The aim of this study was to reveal the socioeconomic inequalities in children’s toothbrushing and finishing-toothbrushing by parents and if it varies by SES indicators. Methods We used data from ‘Survey on Children’s Life’ conducted by A city of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The multiple imputed data of 902 (boys, 453) included self-reported children’s toothbrushing behaviour and finishing-toothbrushing by parents in three-to six-year-old children. SES was assessed using self-reported household income and parental educational attainment. Absolute and relative inequalities in toothbrushing behaviours were quantified using the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII), respectively. Results There were significant absolute and relative inequalities of children’s toothbrushing for household income (SII and RII were 0.241 and 2.73, respectively), of finishing-toothbrushing by parents for household income (SII and RII were 0.133 and 3.28, respectively), and educational attainment (SII and RII were 0.166 and 5.55, respectively). The same inequality trends were observed after adjusting for covariates (child’s age and sex, family structure, breakfast and dinner frequency, and sleep duration). Conclusion Socioeconomic inequalities in children’s toothbrushing and finishing-toothbrushing by parents varied according to SES indicators.