Global Affordability of Fluoride Toothpaste
Author Information
Author(s): Ann S Goldman, Robert Yee, Christopher J Holmgren, Habib Benzian
Primary Institution: The George Washington University
Hypothesis
Fluoride toothpaste is not equally affordable in high-, middle- and low-income countries.
Conclusion
Significant inequalities in the affordability of fluoride toothpaste indicate the necessity for action to make it more affordable.
Supporting Evidence
- The proportion of household expenditure required to purchase toothpaste increases as the country's per capita household expenditure decreases.
- In the UK, the poorest 30% of the population needs only 0.037 days of work to buy toothpaste, while in Kenya, it is 10.75 days.
- Affordability of toothpaste varies significantly across different income levels and countries.
Takeaway
Some people in poorer countries have to work a lot longer to buy toothpaste than people in richer countries.
Methodology
Data on consumer prices of fluoride toothpastes were obtained from a self-completion questionnaire from 48 countries.
Potential Biases
Data collection was based on convenience sampling from urban areas, which may not represent rural pricing.
Limitations
Only 24% of World Bank member countries participated, and data were mainly collected from urban retail shops.
Participant Demographics
Data were collected from 136 countries, including 15 low-income, 17 middle-income, and 13 high-income countries.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website