Evaluation of the National Program of Oral Health Promotion (NPOHP) at schools in Castelo Branco, Portugal / Avaliação do Programa Nacional de Promoção em Saúde Oral (NPOHP) em escolares de Castelo Branco, Portugal

ABSTRACT

Aim: to evaluate the impact of the National Program of Oral Health Promotion (NPOHP) in children from Castelo Branco (Portugal) through the evaluation of DMFT/dmft indexes and the association between these indicators and different socioeconomic variables. Methodology: One hundred and thirty-five children aging 6-7 and 169 aging 11-12 years from public schools (urban and rural region) of Castelo Branco (Portugal) were randomly selected in the sample. Forty-nine percent of the children aging 6-7 and 55.0% aging 11-12 from the sample participated in the program. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to get information about socioeconomic, behavior and knowledge factors regarding to oral health. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied. Results: the dependent variable was ?dmft+DMFT?. Statistically significant differences were verified for both ages to the dmft+DMFT indexes means between the group that was assisted by the program and that one unassisted. Children assisted by NPOHP showed lower caries prevalence. Two independent variables (study group and father?s occupation) were statistically associated to caries experience (children aging 6-7). For children aging 11-12, caries experience was statistically associated to the study group, dwelling and father?s occupation. In the multivariate analysis, the variable ?study group? remained in the model for both agegroups. Conclusion: the children who were included inthe NPOHP program showed lower dental caries prevalence; therefore, it is crucial that children unassistedby the NPOHP program join it.