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Income-Related Inequalities in Access to Dental Care Services in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Akemi Nishide

    (Department of Public Health, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-8670, Japan)

  • Misuzu Fujita

    (Department of Public Health, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-8670, Japan)

  • Yasunori Sato

    (Department of Global Clinical Research, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-0870, Japan)

  • Kengo Nagashima

    (Department of Global Clinical Research, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-0870, Japan)

  • Sho Takahashi

    (Clinical Research Center, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-0870, Japan)

  • Akira Hata

    (Department of Public Health, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-8670, Japan)

Abstract

Background : This study aimed to evaluate whether income-related inequalities in access to dental care services exist in Japan. Methods : The subjects included beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance (NHI) in Chiba City, Japan, who had been enrolled from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015. The presence or absence of dental visits and number of days spent on dental care services during the year were calculated using insurance claims submitted. Equivalent household income was calculated using individual income data from 1 January to 31 December 2013, declared for taxation. Results : Of the 216,211 enrolled subjects, 50.3% had dental care during the year. Among those with dental visits, the average number of days (standard deviation) spent on dental care services per year was 7.7 (7.1). Low income was associated with a decreased rate of dental care utilization regardless of age and sex. However, there was a significant inverse linear association between the number of days spent on dental care services and income levels for both sexes. Conclusions : There were income-related inequalities in access to dental care services, regardless of the age group or sex, within the Japanese universal health insurance system.

Suggested Citation

  • Akemi Nishide & Misuzu Fujita & Yasunori Sato & Kengo Nagashima & Sho Takahashi & Akira Hata, 2017. "Income-Related Inequalities in Access to Dental Care Services in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:5:p:524-:d:98498
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Misuzu Fujita & Yasunori Sato & Kengo Nagashima & Sho Takahashi & Akira Hata, 2016. "Income Related Inequality of Health Care Access in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Green, Carla A & Pope, Clyde R, 1999. "Gender, psychosocial factors and the use of medical services: a longitudinal analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(10), pages 1363-1372, May.
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:7725 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

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    2. Han-Na Kim & Sang-Jun Han & Eun-Joo Jun & Jin-Bom Kim, 2020. "Factors Related to Oral Healthcare Service Utilization among Korean Adults Aged 25–79 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Xiaomin Qu & Xiang Qi & Bei Wu, 2020. "Disparities in Dental Service Utilization among Adults in Chinese Megacities: Do Health Insurance and City of Residence Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Katsuo Oshima, 2023. "People’s Willingness to Pay for Dental Checkups and the Associated Individual Characteristics: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey among Japanese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Kanade Ito & Noriko Cable & Tatsuo Yamamoto & Kayo Suzuki & Katsunori Kondo & Ken Osaka & Georgios Tsakos & Richard G. Watt & Jun Aida, 2020. "Wider Dental Care Coverage Associated with Lower Oral Health Inequalities: A Comparison Study between Japan and England," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-10, July.

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