Comparison of access to Oral Health Services between areas covered and not covered by the Family Health Program in Campina Grande, Paraiba State, Brazil

Although there are various studies on access to health studies, few have dealt specifically with access to oral health services. The aim of the current study was to evaluate factors associated with access to oral health services in Campina Grande, Paraiba State, Brazil, comparing the areas covered versus not covered by the Family Health Program (FHP). This was a cross-sectional, population-based study with a sample consisting of individuals over 18 years of age (n = 827) from urban census tracts that included health units of the Unified National Health System (SUS), stratified in areas covered versus not covered by the FHP. The statistical analysis used Pearson's chi-square and logistic regression. Individuals living in areas not covered by the FHP had 1.5 times greater odds of having access to oral health services (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9; p = 0.004) when compared to those living in areas covered by the FHP. However, this probability decreased, losing its significance (OR = 1.1; 95% CI: 0.8-1.6; p = 0.337), after adjusting for gender, age, individual income, schooling, and self-perceived health. Thus, no association was proven between coverage versus non-coverage by the FHP and access to oral health services.