Acesso à saúde bucal na primeira infância no município de Porto Alegre, Brasil / Access to oral health in early childhood in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Resumo O objetivo foi avaliar o acesso e fatores associados à consulta odontológica em crianças de até 5 anos no município de Porto Alegre, Brasil. Estudo transversal realizado em 10 Unidades Básicas de Saúde, através de questionário e exame clínico em 560 crianças. Foram avaliadas variáveis clínicas (placa visível, sangramento gengival e ceo-s), sociodemográficas, e de acesso à consulta. Regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para cálculo de Razões de Prevalência (RP), com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Os resultados mostraram que 68,2% das crianças nunca haviam ido ao dentista. O principal motivo relatado para a não realização de consulta odontológica foi não ter sentido necessidade (48,7%) e dificuldade de acesso ao posto de saúde (15,8%). A procura pelo dentista teve como propósito a prevenção/revisão (55,8%) e os locais mais procurados para consultas foi o consultório particular (43,9%) e o posto de saúde (39,5%). O modelo multivariado final mostrou que a idade da criança (IC95%, RP = 1,03 (1,02-1,05)), a renda familiar (RP = 1,05; (1,01-1,08)) e a mãe ter concluído o ensino médio (RP = 1,69 (1,15-2,56)) estiveram associados com a procura por consulta odontológica. Assim, torna-se fundamental reconhecer a importância do contexto familiar durante os primeiros anos de vida.

Abstract The goal was to assess the access and factors connected to dental visits in children up to age five in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 Basic Health Units through a questionnaire and clinical examination on 560 children. Clinical (visible plaque, gingival bleeding and defs), socio-demographic, and visit access variables were assessed. Poisson Regression was used to calculate the Prevalence Ratios (PR), with a 95% confidence interval. Results showed that 68.2% of children had never gone to a dentist. The main reason reported for not visiting a dentist was not feeling the need (48.7%) and difficult access to a health clinic (15.8%). The purpose of going to the dentist was for prevention/revision (55.8%), and the most sought-after places for visits were the private office (43.9%) and health clinic (39.5%). The final multivariate model showed that age of the child (95%CI, PR = 1.03 (1.02-1.05)), household income (PR = 1.05; (1.01-1.08)), and the mother having completed high school (PR = 1.69 (1.15-2.56)) were associated with seeking dental consultation. Thus, it is crucial to recognize the importance of the family setting during the first years of life.

Early Childhood Caries and Family-Related Determining Factors in a Southern Brazilian City

Objective: To evaluate the factors associated to Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in a population of children under 5 years old in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted at 10 Primary Healthcare Units during the 2008 Nationwide Multi-Vaccination Campaign. A questionnaire was administered to parents and guardians to look into their social-demographic and economic variables, along with their dental health practices. The children underwent dental examination. The presence of visible plaque and dental caries was evaluated using the DMFS index. Chi-Square tests and Poisson regression were conducted, with robust variance for prevalence ratios (PR). Results: 560 children were evaluated, most of them male (51.6%) and at the average age of 32.6 (±16.2) months. Their average family income was 3.21(±4.8) Brazilian minimum monthly salaries. Paternal schooling, number of children, and living conditions were not significantly associated to the dental caries and visible plaque outcomes. According to our multivariate analysis, greater maternal schooling resulted in fewer cavities (PR=0.26; CI95%0.09-0.81) and less visible plaque (PR=0.40; CI95%0.21-0.79). On the other hand, children enrolled in day care or taken care by "others" showed higher caries prevalence (PR=1.58; CI95%1.00-2.48) (PR=1.90; CI95%1.23-2.95), respectively, and those whose families were the mother/child type showed higher visible plaque prevalence (PR=1.44; CI95%1.07-1.95). Conclusion: It is important to recognize that issues related to maternal schooling, the care given, and family organization are factors associated to ECC in a population of under 5-year-olds in Porto Alegre, Brazil.