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Impacto da literacia na saúde oral : uma revisão narrativa
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Abstract(s)
Este trabalho analisa como a literacia em saúde oral, articulada com fatores socioeconómicos e psicossociais, molda desigualdades e condiciona comportamentos de prevenção. Um elevado grau de literacia favorece rotinas preventivas, adesão a consultas, uso de escovas e flúor, e escolhas informadas, refletindo-se em melhor autocuidado e estado de saúde oral ao longo do ciclo de vida.
Salienta-se que os homens apresentam maior prevalência de doenças orais em relação às mulheres, associada a comportamentos de risco, tais como menor procura de cuidados, higiene menos regular e consumo de tabaco e álcool. A leitura destes padrões é essencial para orientar intervenções sensíveis ao género, que promovam motivação, acompanhamento e acesso a consultas preventivas.
Entre populações especiais, destacam-se barreiras estruturais e informacionais que limitam o acesso a consultas. Em comunidades indígenas, a falta de infraestrutura, a distância dos serviços, custos e baixos níveis de literacia dificultam a acessibilidade ao tratamento e ações preventivas. Também as populações migrantes enfrentam obstáculos no acesso a consultas dentárias, condicionados por instabilidade social, barreiras linguísticas, desconhecimento de direitos e serviços disponíveis.
No plano psicossocial, o sentido de coerência ou sense of coherence (SOC) influencia os comportamentos de saúde oral. Indivíduos que percecionam a vida como compreensível e significativa tendem a adotar práticas de higiene consistentes, controlar hábitos de risco e procurar cuidados. Assim, a literacia em saúde oral funciona como mediadora entre condições sociais, crenças e práticas quotidianas, potenciando decisões protetoras.
Conclui-se que promover literacia em saúde oral, adaptada a contextos socioeconómicos e culturais, é determinante para reduzir desigualdades. Estratégias devem contemplar comunicação acessível, melhoria de infraestruturas e transportes e abordagens sensíveis às necessidades de homens e de grupos vulneráveis, de modo a fortalecer o autocuidado, os comportamentos preventivos e a equidade em saúde oral.
This review analyzes how oral health literacy, together with socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, shapes inequalities and influences preventive behaviors. Higher literacy supports preventive routines, adherence to appointments, the use of toothbrushes and fluoride, and informed choices, resulting in better self-care and better oral health status across the life course. Men show a higher prevalence of oral diseases than women, associated with risk behaviors such as lower care-seeking, less regular hygiene, and tobacco and alcohol consumption. Understanding these patterns is essential to guide gender-sensitive interventions that promote motivation, follow-up, and access to preventive appointments. Among special populations, structural and informational barriers limit access. In Indigenous communities, the lack of infrastructure, distance to services, costs, and lower literacy levels hinder early treatment seeking and preventive actions. Migrant populations also face obstacles to dental care, constrained by social instability, language barriers, and limited awareness of rights and available services. At the psychosocial level, the sense of coherence (SOC) influences oral health behaviors. Individuals who perceive life as comprehensible and meaningful tend to adopt consistent hygiene practices, control risk habits, and seek care. Thus, health literacy acts as a mediator between social conditions, beliefs, and daily practices, enabling more protective decisions. In conclusion, promoting oral health literacy tailored to specific socioeconomic and cultural contexts is crucial to reducing inequalities. Strategies should include accessible communication, improved infrastructure and transport, and approaches sensitive to the needs of men and vulnerable groups, in order to strengthen self-care, preventive behaviors, and equity in oral health.
This review analyzes how oral health literacy, together with socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, shapes inequalities and influences preventive behaviors. Higher literacy supports preventive routines, adherence to appointments, the use of toothbrushes and fluoride, and informed choices, resulting in better self-care and better oral health status across the life course. Men show a higher prevalence of oral diseases than women, associated with risk behaviors such as lower care-seeking, less regular hygiene, and tobacco and alcohol consumption. Understanding these patterns is essential to guide gender-sensitive interventions that promote motivation, follow-up, and access to preventive appointments. Among special populations, structural and informational barriers limit access. In Indigenous communities, the lack of infrastructure, distance to services, costs, and lower literacy levels hinder early treatment seeking and preventive actions. Migrant populations also face obstacles to dental care, constrained by social instability, language barriers, and limited awareness of rights and available services. At the psychosocial level, the sense of coherence (SOC) influences oral health behaviors. Individuals who perceive life as comprehensible and meaningful tend to adopt consistent hygiene practices, control risk habits, and seek care. Thus, health literacy acts as a mediator between social conditions, beliefs, and daily practices, enabling more protective decisions. In conclusion, promoting oral health literacy tailored to specific socioeconomic and cultural contexts is crucial to reducing inequalities. Strategies should include accessible communication, improved infrastructure and transport, and approaches sensitive to the needs of men and vulnerable groups, in order to strengthen self-care, preventive behaviors, and equity in oral health.
Description
Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre no Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz
Keywords
Literacia em saúde oral Comportamentos preventivos Higiene oral Educação para a saúde