Inequalities in the distribution of dental caries among 12-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren
Braz. oral res
;
25(1): 69-75, Jan.-Feb. 2011. graf, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-595840
ABSTRACT
We assessed the inequality in the distribution of dental caries and the association between indicators of socioeconomic status and caries experience in a representative sample of schoolchildren. This study followed a cross-sectional design, with a sample of 792 schoolchildren aged 12 years, representative of this age group in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Guardians answered questions on socioeconomic status and a dental examination provided information on the dental caries experience (DMF-T). Inequality in dental caries distribution was measured by the Gini coefficient and the Significant Caries Index (SiC). The assessment of association used Poisson regression models. Socioeconomic factors were associated with prevalence of dental caries for the whole sample and also for individuals with a high-caries level. Children from low-income households had the highest prevalence of dental caries. The Gini coefficient was 0.7 and the SiC Index 2.5. The percentage of caries prevalence was 39.3 percent (95 percent CI 35.8 percent-42.8 percent) and the mean for DMF-T was 0.9 (± SD 1.5). Inequalities in the distribution of dental caries were observed and socioeconomic factors were found to be strong predictors of the prevalence of oral disease in children of this age group.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
DMF Index
/
Oral Health
/
Dental Caries
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. oral res
Journal subject:
Dentistry
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Federal University of Santa Maria/BR
/
University of São Paulo/BR
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