Table 3

Bivariate and multivariate analyses according to the time of the variable fluoridation in the 246 municipalities studied.

Variable
n
Fluoridation before 1990
n = 72
n(%)
Fluoridation after 1990
n = 41
n(%)
Without fluoridation
n = 133
n(%)
P-value* (bivariate)
P-value** (multivariate)

HDI-M






> 0.743
121
54 (44.6)
28 (23.1)
39 (32.2)
< 0.0001
0.416
≤ 0.743
125
18 (14.4)
13 (10.4)
94 (75.2)


Percentage access to mains water






> 84.24%
123
59 (48.0)
26 (21.1)
38 (30.9)
< 0.0001
0.213
≥ 84.24%
123
13 (10.6)
15 (12.2)
95 (77.2)


Population size






> 24440 inhabitants
122
50 (41.0)
21 (17.2)
51 (41.8)
< 0.0001
< 0.0001
≤ 24440 inhabitants
124
22 (17.7)
20 (16.1)
82 (66.1)


Macro region South/Southeast
148
69 (46.6)
34 (23.0)
45 (30.4)
< 0.0001
< 0.0001
Mid West and North/Northeast
98
3 (3.1)
7 (7.1)
88 (89.8)



(*) Fisher's Exact Test (P < 0.05)

(**) Linear regression (P < 0.05)

Gabardo et al. BMC Oral Health 2008 8:9   doi:10.1186/1472-6831-8-9