Access to information on oral hygiene and mothers' practices of children with microcephaly caused by Zika virus.

OBJECTIVE: To verify whether access to information about oral hygiene influenced the practices of caregivers of children with microcephaly caused by Zika virus (ZIKV). METHODS: A case series study was developed at the Mens Sana Rehabilitation Center, in the municipality of Arcoverde, Pernambuco, Brazil. The study universe included the mothers of 32 children with microcephaly caused by Zika virus. Data collection took place in June 2018 and was carried out through a structured questionnaire. The variables studied comprised socioeconomic issues, habits, diet, and knowledge about oral hygiene. Fisher's Exact and Pearson's Chi-square tests were used with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Out of 32 individuals eligible to participate in the study, only 27 were selected. Most mothers reported receiving information about oral hygiene from their infants (63.0%). Fisher's Exact and Pearson's Chi-square tests showed that access to oral hygiene information was associated with mother's education, family income, regular visits to the dentist, frequency of tooth brushing, age at which the infant started brushing, and brushing time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Access to information about oral hygiene positively influenced the oral health care of mothers with their children with microcephaly caused by ZIKV.

Racial disparity and prognosis in patients with mouth and oropharynx cancer in Brazil

Background: Oral and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.Populations in situations of social vulnerability tend to have higher incidences of cancer, a higher proportion oflate diagnosis, greater difficulties in accessing health services, and, consequently, worse prognosis. The aim ofthis study was to evaluate the relationship between race/skin color and OPC prognosis in Brazil.Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study using OPC data from the National CancerInstitute between the years 2000 and 2019. The selected variables were: gender, race/skin color, age, education,smoking and alcohol consumption, stage of the disease and disease status at the end of the 1st treatment.Results: 154,214 cases were recorded. Black men, in the 6th decade of life, were the most affected population.Blacks had a lower level of education when compared to non-blacks (p<0.001). Blacks were more exposed tosmoking and alcohol consumption (p<0.001). At the time of diagnosis, the black population was at the most advanced stage when compared to non-blacks (p<0.001). At the end of the 1st treatment, more black patients haddisease in progression, as well as more black patients died (p<0.001). Conclusions: Blacks had a worse prognosisfor OPC in Brazil. Despite the limitations, these results are important to elucidate the scenario of health disparitiesin relation to the race/skin color of the Brazilian population. (AU)

Avaliação do conhecimento de cirurgiões-dentistas da atenção básica sobre estomatologia / Knowledge evaluation of primary health care dentists concerning oral medicine

Objetivo: Avaliar o nível de conhecimento em Estomatologia dos cirurgiões-dentistas (CD) que atuam na Atenção Básica de um município de Pernambuco, Brasil. Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional, indutivo, estatístico e de abordagem quantitativa. A população do estudo envolve os CD atuantes nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde do município. Os dados foram coletados através de um questionário elaborado pelos pesquisadores, contendo 27 perguntas sobre as lesões orais mais comuns, diagnóstico clínico e condutas frente a diagnósticos clínicos específicos. O nível de conhecimento foi mensurado a partir da média de acertos dos profissionais. Os dados coletados foram processados por meio do uso do programa estatístico IBM SPSS 20.0®. Resultados: A amostra obtida foi de treze CD. A média dos acertos nos conhecimentos específicos em Estomatologia foi de 17 (± 3,109). Quanto à classificação do desempenho geral, a maioria dos profissionais (69,2%) teve um desempenho regular. Quanto aos conhecimentos específicos sobre diagnóstico clínico, estes foram classificados como alto para a maioria (53,8%). Em relação aos conhecimentos específicos sobre as condutas adequadas frente às lesões, a classificação do desempenho foi baixa para a maioria dos participantes (84,6%). Conclusão: De modo geral, os CD obtiveram um desempenho regular de conhecimento em Estomatologia. Recomenda-se o desenvolvimento de mais pesquisas devido à escassez de discussões sobre o tema na literatura.

Aim: To evaluate the level of knowledge on oral medicine of dentists who work in Primary Health Care in the city in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Methods: This is an observational, inductive, statistical study with a quantitative approach. The study population involves dentists working in the Basic Health Units of the city. The data were collected through a questionnaire prepared by the researchers, containing 27 questions about the most common oral lesions, clinical diagnoses, and conduct towards specific clinical diagnoses. The level of knowledge was measured from the mean of correct answers by the professionals. Collected data were processed using the IBM SPSS 20.0® statistical program. Results: This study's sample counted on the participation of thirteen dentists. The mean of correct answers regarding specific knowledge on Oral Medicine was 17 (± 3.109). As for the classification of general performance, most professionals (69.2%) performed regularly. As for specific knowledge about clinical diagnosis, the knowledge was classified as high for the majority (53.8%). About the appropriate behaviors in relation to injuries, the performance classification was low for most participants (84.6%). Conclusion: In general, dentists obtained a regular knowledge on Oral Medicine. Further research is recommended due to the scarcity of discussions on the topic in the literature.