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Health Education Research Advance Access published online on January 31, 2008
Health Education Research, doi:10.1093/her/cym096
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Inequalities in toothbrushing among adolescents in Scotland 1998–2006

K. A. Levin* and C. Currie

Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, The Moray House School of Education, The University of Edinburgh, St Leonard's Land, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ, UK

Correspondence to: * Correspondence to: K. A. Levin. E-mail: kate.levin{at}ed.ac.uk

The aim of this study was to examine trends in toothbrushing and inequalities in toothbrushing among girls and boys in Scotland between 1998 and 2006. A secondary aim was to investigate the association between the health promoting school (HPS) initiative and toothbrushing. Data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 1998, 2002 and 2006 surveys were analysed using multilevel logistic regression for boys and girls aged 11, 13 and 15 years. Girls' twice-a-day toothbrushing increased with age while that of boys' remained stable. Toothbrushing increased significantly between 1998 and 2006 for all but 15-year-old girls. Family structure was significantly associated with toothbrushing for 11-year-old boys and 13-year-old boys and girls. Socio-economic inequalities in toothbrushing were significant for both boys and girls at all ages. Largest inequalities were seen among 13-year-old girls and 15-year-old boys. Inequalities persisted over time for all but 15-year-old boys who saw a significant reduction between 1998 and 2006. The HPS initiative in schools in deprived areas was associated with increased odds of twice-a day toothbrushing among 11-year-old boys and 15-year-old girls.

Received on August 21, 2007; accepted on October 29, 2007


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