ABSTRACT
In recent years, the number of pediatric organ transplants has increased. As the life expectancy of pediatric transplant recipients continues to rise the number of transplant children visiting dental clinics increases accordingly. These patients need medical and dental treatment for life due to the kind of medication they take and its effects on the oral cavity. However, satisfactory compliance with medical treatment has not been reported. We analyze the degree of association between compliance with medical/dental treatments, biological variables (age and number of transplant surgeries) and social-economical variables (family type, schooling, place of residence and economical status) in infant and adolescent renal transplant patients, in a retrospective descriptive study. 74 infant and adolescent renal transplant patients aged 16.7 +/- 1.23 years were studied. Information on age, time in dialysis treatment, time since the transplant surgery, number of transplants, social-economical status, parents schooling, family type, place of residence and compliance with prescribed treatment was collected from clinical records and guided questionnaires. Tables of contingence for Chi square test were constructed for all variables to test association among them. The statistical analysis showed that compliance with both medical and dental treatments were positively associated with family type and schooling. Association with place of residence and economical status was not observed. No association was observed with age and number of transplants. Pediatric transplant patients who live in unsupportive homes and whose parents schooling is poor, are a vulnerable group which should be periodically motivated to promote satisfactory compliance with the prescribed treatment.