TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the provision of dental procedures performed by the brazilian unified health system
T2 - A syndemic perspective
AU - da Cunha, Amanda Ramos
AU - Velasco, Sofia Rafaela Maito
AU - Hugo, Fernando Neves
AU - Antunes, José Leopoldo Ferreira
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Objectives: This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of dental care procedures performed by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) nationally and by regions. Considering that the most underprivileged population disproportionately suffers with the reduction in dental care provision, the study hypothesis suggests the presence of a syndemic nature. Methodology: The SUS Outpatient Information System (SIA-SUS) was assessed to gather data on dental care activities and procedures performed between April and July 2018, 2019, and 2020 by dentists registered in the SUS. The 30 most frequent activities and procedures performed by dentists were selected and classified into three categories (urgent dental care, nonemergency dental care, and case-dependent urgency procedures), based on the guidance for dental care during the pandemic published by the American Dental Association. Results: Results demonstrated a reduction in the provision of dental care of all categories during the pandemic. Urgency dental consultations and procedures in primary and specialized dental care services decreased by 42.5 and 44.1%, respectively, between 2020 and 2019. Non-urgent procedures decreased by 92.3%. Although decreases in dental care activities and procedures were reported in all Brazilian regions, the largest relative decreases in urgent procedures – that should have been maintained during the pandemic – occurred in the North and Northeast regions, which are the poorest regions of the country. Conclusions: These results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has a syndemic behavior. Further investigation into the pandemic-syndemic impacts on oral disease burden is necessary.
AB - Objectives: This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of dental care procedures performed by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) nationally and by regions. Considering that the most underprivileged population disproportionately suffers with the reduction in dental care provision, the study hypothesis suggests the presence of a syndemic nature. Methodology: The SUS Outpatient Information System (SIA-SUS) was assessed to gather data on dental care activities and procedures performed between April and July 2018, 2019, and 2020 by dentists registered in the SUS. The 30 most frequent activities and procedures performed by dentists were selected and classified into three categories (urgent dental care, nonemergency dental care, and case-dependent urgency procedures), based on the guidance for dental care during the pandemic published by the American Dental Association. Results: Results demonstrated a reduction in the provision of dental care of all categories during the pandemic. Urgency dental consultations and procedures in primary and specialized dental care services decreased by 42.5 and 44.1%, respectively, between 2020 and 2019. Non-urgent procedures decreased by 92.3%. Although decreases in dental care activities and procedures were reported in all Brazilian regions, the largest relative decreases in urgent procedures – that should have been maintained during the pandemic – occurred in the North and Northeast regions, which are the poorest regions of the country. Conclusions: These results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has a syndemic behavior. Further investigation into the pandemic-syndemic impacts on oral disease burden is necessary.
KW - Coronavirus infections
KW - Dental care
KW - Healthcare disparities
KW - Oral health
KW - Pandemics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107455275&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85107455275&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1590/1980-549720210028
DO - 10.1590/1980-549720210028
M3 - Article
C2 - 34076147
AN - SCOPUS:85107455275
SN - 1415-790X
VL - 24
JO - Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia
JF - Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia
M1 - E210028
ER -