CORRELATION BETWEEN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX AND DENTAL DECAY IN A SAMPLE OF CITIES OF MINAS GERAIS STATE: IMPLICATIONS ON ORAL HEALTHY INCLUSION IN FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGIE

Abstract

The present ecologic study investigated the correlation between dental caries prevalence and socioeconomic factors in the State of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Minas Gerais, Brazil for the year 2000. Two groups of information were collected: (1) data on caries prevalence (DMFT 12 years-old) in the municipal districts of the State, shared in their mesoregions; (2) data related to the socioeconomic conditions using the Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI). Based on simple linear regression analysis, the study demonstrated a significant correlation, although small magnitude, between DMFT index and MHDI. They have discussed about the importance of the inclusion of the dental surgeon in the Health Family Strategy searching for the equity. Thus, the great challenge to the professional inserted in the Group of Oral Health is the real reversion of the system of health care,  before  only curing, for a model with the purpose to regional necessity , according to the epidemical profile local, able to reorganize the structure of operation, the methods and work process searching to reduce iniquity.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />