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International Journal of Social and Psychological Aspects of Healthcare

2025 Volume 5

Tooth Loss, Social Stigma, and Discriminatory Experiences in Health Services


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  1. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Abstract

To investigate factors associated with perceived social discrimination in health care settings related to dental aesthetic conditions. Data were obtained from a Brazilian National Survey. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance were applied to examine associations between reported discrimination in health services—according to different stated motivations—and sociodemographic and dental characteristics. Effect modification by the use of complete dental prostheses was also evaluated. Of the 60,200 individuals surveyed, 11.5% reported experiencing discrimination in health services. Among women, higher prevalence of discrimination was observed in the 30–44-year age group. For both men and women, discrimination was more frequent among individuals identifying as Black or Brown. With respect to dental status, increasing levels of tooth loss were associated with higher prevalence of discrimination, whereas the use of complete prostheses showed a protective effect. Social discrimination was the most frequently reported reason and was particularly prevalent among edentulous individuals who did not use prostheses. Tooth loss is associated with self-reported discrimination in health care settings. The likelihood of experiencing discrimination increases with greater severity of tooth loss, and social discrimination represents the predominant underlying reason.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Khan AR, Iqbal SM, Farooq UA. Tooth Loss, Social Stigma, and Discriminatory Experiences in Health Services. Int J Soc Psychol Asp Healthc. 2025;5:124-33. https://doi.org/10.51847/kA73mLmBjl
APA
Khan, A. R., Iqbal, S. M., & Farooq, U. A. (2025). Tooth Loss, Social Stigma, and Discriminatory Experiences in Health Services. International Journal of Social and Psychological Aspects of Healthcare, 5, 124-133. https://doi.org/10.51847/kA73mLmBjl
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