Efeito da cor da pele na utilização de serviços odontológicos: revisão sistemática e metanálise

Abstract

Ethnic-racial inequalities are significant factors in the production of diseases. Racism manifests at different levels within society and can directly and indirectly affect the health of ethnic minorities. Regarding access to dental services, studies have indicated inequalities in both access to and use of dental care. Thus, individuals with white skin color and greater economic, cultural, and social capital are more likely to use health services, including dental services, and to have a higher prevalence of preventive or follow-up visits. However, despite the evidence presented, to date, no studies have synthesized the literature concerning the presence of racial inequities in the use of dental services. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to assess whether there is an association between skin color/race and the use of dental services in population-based studies. A total of 3,253 articles were identified, of which 39 were fully reviewed, and 16 publications were excluded. In the end, 23 studies were included in this systematic review, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. In the analysis, by categorizing ethnic minorities and using randomeffects models, we found that the likelihood of using dental services in the past year was 40% lower among Black individuals and 36% lower among Brown individuals compared to white individuals. Thus, it can be concluded that racial inequities exist in the utilization of dental services.