SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH ORAL HEALTH LITERACY IN ADULTS - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY - RESUMEN Y ABSTRACT

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by dhado

Objective: Determine sociodemographic characteristics associated with oral health literacy (OHL) in Peruvian adults attending a public health center in Lima. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study included 384 adults aged 19–64 in Metropolitan Lima. OHL was measured with the Peruvian version of HeLD-14. Sociodemographic factors included gender, age, residence, children, insurance, education, occupation, and monthly income. Results: Mean OHL was 48.60 ± 6.89; higher in women and higher-income participants. Literacy decreased with age and number of children. Adjusted regression associated OHL with female sex, younger age, and monthly income > five minimum wages. Conclusion: Adult OHL in an urban area tends to be high and relates to key sociodemographic determinants.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objective

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Oral diseases and sociodemographic disparities

Definition and impact of oral health literacy

Measurement instruments and HeLD model

ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH ORAL HEALTH LITERACY IN ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY CARACTERÍSTICAS SOCIODEMOGRÁFICAS ASOCIADAS A LA ALFABETIZACIÓN EN SALUD ORAL EN ADULTOS: ESTUDIO TRANSVERSAL | Sergio Orozco-Vásquez1
[12050077@unmsm.edu.pe](12050077@unmsm.edu.pe)
[Teresa Evaristo-Chiyong](Teresa Evaristo-Chiyong1)[1](Teresa Evaristo-Chiyong1) *
[tevaristoc@unmsm.edu.pe](tevaristoc@unmsm.edu.pe)
Article received: 27/08/2025 Peer reviewed
Article accepted: 01/10/2025
Article published: 30/12/2025 * Corresponding author:
Teresa Evaristo-Chiyong[tevaristoc@unmsm.edu.pe](tevaristoc@unmsm.edu.pe)

©Los autores, 2025. Publicado por la Universidad Científica del Sur (Lima, Perú)
Cite as: Orozco-Vásquez S, EvaristoChiyongT. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with oral health literacy in adults: A cross-sectional study. Rev Cient Odontol (Lima) . 2025;13(4):e263 .
doi: 10.21142/2523-2754-1304-2025-263 | ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with oral health literacy (OHL) in Peruvian adults attending a public health center in Lima. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 384 Peruvian adults aged 19 to 64 who visited a health center in Metropolitan Lima. OHL was measured using the Peruvian version of the Health Literacy in Dentistry-14 (HeLD-14) score. Sociodemographic characteristics, including gender, age, place of residence, number of children, health insurance status, educational level, occupation, and monthly income, were collected. Bivariate analysis was performed using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests, while multivariate analysis was conducted using the linear regression model with a significance level of 5% . Results: The average OHL score was 48.60 ± 6.89. Literacy was higher in women (p = 0.004) and among those with higher incomes (p = 0.002). Conversely, literacy decreased with increasing age (p = 0.022) and number of children (p = 0.033). In the adjusted model, an association was found with being female (β = 0.097, p = 0.001), younger age (β = -0.003, p = 0.015), and a monthly income greater than five minimum wages (β= 0.100, p = 0.025) . Conclusion: OHL in an adult population in an urban area tends to be high and is associated with sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, and monthly income.
Keywords (Mesh): health literacy; oral health; social determinants of health; adult
RESUMEN
Objetivo: Determinar las características sociodemográficas asociadas a la alfabetización en salud oral en adultos peruanos que acuden a un centro de salud público de Lima. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal en 384 peruanos adultos con edades comprendidas entre 19 y 64 años que acudieron a un centro de salud de Lima Metropolitana. La alfabetización en salud oral se midió a través del puntaje obtenido a través del Health Literacy in Dentistry-14 (HeLD-14), versiónperuana, y se recopilaron características sociodemográficas como sexo, edad, lugar de residencia, número de hijos, tenencia de seguro de salud, grado de instrucción, ocupación e ingreso mensual. Elanálisis bivariado se realizó a través de las pruebas no paramétricas U de Mann-Whitney, KruskalWallis y correlación de Spearman; y el análisis multivariado, a través del modelo de regresión lineal considerando un nivel de significancia del 5%. Resultados: El promedio de alfabetización en salud oral fue de 48,60 ± 6,89. La alfabetización fue mayor en mujeres (p = 0,004), así como en los que declararon ingresos mayores (p = 0,002) . A mayor edad (p = 0,022) y mayor número de hijos (p = 0,033) la alfabetización fue menor. En el modelo ajustado, se encontró asociación entre ser de sexo femenino (β = 0,097 p = 0,001), menor edad (β = -0,003 p = 0,015) e ingreso mensual mayor a cinco sueldos mínimos (β = 0,100 p = 0,025) . Conclusión: La alfabetización en salud oral en u

FAQs

What was the objective of the study?

To determine which sociodemographic characteristics are associated with oral health literacy (OHL) among Peruvian adults attending a public health center in Lima.

How was oral health literacy (OHL) measured?

OHL was measured using the Peruvian version of the Health Literacy in Dentistry-14 (HeLD-14) score.

Which sociodemographic factors showed an association with OHL in the adjusted model?

The adjusted analysis found associations with being female, younger age, and having a monthly income greater than five minimum wages.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by dhado