Estimation of Dental Services Demand Function of Family in Sabzevar, Iran, in the Urban Area: 2007

Demand analysis in health sector has a key role on policy making. Although, dental cares are a branch of public health services, but their economy could be distinguished from the other health services due to some reasons. This study was aimed to estimate demand function for family dental services, and to determine their influential factors.

This cross sectional study carried out on 520 households of Sabzevar city. Data collected by using a questionnaire, and demand function estimated by two- stage Logit regression model.

Results indicated that 42.7% of the heads of households had academic education, and 52.9% were governmental employees. Only 71% households need to dental cares; demand for taking the related services. The most frequent demand (43.9%) was for teeth extraction, and the less for orthodontic cares (1.4%). Demand for dental cares in 5 Job groups were more than the base group; and 3 educational groups were less than the base group. Gender, educational level, job and household income variables had a significant correlation with demand for dental cares. Regression analysis showed that the level of education, household income and 3 job groups had a significant difference with their base groups. These variables can be used in writing the model equation.

The income level had directly; and educational level inverse correlation with demand for dental cares. Demand for dental cares in 3 job groups were more than the base group. There is a certain need to supplementary insure for less income groups.