ABSTRACT
Background: The objectives were to assess the impact of dental caries on the daily living of the geriatric population and determine the factors that influence the relationship between dental health and the daily living of the geriatric population. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out over six months at Rawalpindi's public and private dental hospitals. Participants aged≥60 years, both male and female, were selected. The calculated sample size was 281. Desired sample from one of the dental hospitals was collected using a non-probability consecutive sampling strategy. Data about sociodemographic characteristics and the DMFT index were collected. Adapted validated tool dental impact on daily living (DIDL) was used to assess the impact of dental health on daily living. Results: Chi-squared test of association showed a positive association between the DIDL and sociodemographic variables, including age (P=0.001), gender (P=0.001), education (P=0.001), income (P=0.001), occupation (P=0.029), marital status (P=0.001), living arrangement (P=0.001), and history of chronic illnesses (P=0.001). The association between the DMFT index and DIDL also showed statistically significant results (P=0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that gender (OR=6.98, P=0.005) and the individual's dental health (OR=6.43, P=0.001) were the strongest predictors of the impact experienced in daily life activities. The overall model was statistically significant (χ2=51.24, P=0.001), and the variables were responsible for 32.4% of the variance in the outcome variable. Conclusion: The study provides strong evidence that sociodemographic factors, DMFT index, gender, and individual dental health significantly contribute to the impact of dental health on daily living. Gender and individual dental health emerge as particularly influential predictors. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and awareness programs, especially for groups with a higher risk of experiencing a significant impact on daily life due to dental issues.
ABSTRACT
Severe burn injuries pose diagnostic challenges, contributing to increased fatality rates with delayed diagnoses. This study aims to identify early risk factors and understand their impact on clinical outcomes by examining hematological dynamics in severe burn cases. The focus includes age-related patterns, Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) affected by burns, hospital stay duration, and changes in hematological markers during burn injuries. An analytical cross-sectional study at the Burn Care Centre involved 135 participants hospitalized between January 2018 and December 2021. Demographic data and hematological markers were recorded, with statistical analysis using IBM SPSS 25.0. Non-survivors exhibited a greater mean TBSA, shorter hospital stay, and an enhanced early immune response indicated by WBC count on the first day. Hematological markers, including HGB, RCC, and PLT, showed dynamic patterns over the study period. Marginal variations in platelet counts and intriguing patterns in RCC suggested potential consequences like disseminated intravascular coagulation. The study provides crucial insights into hematological responses to severe burn injuries. Early identification of risk factors, particularly age-related patterns and immune responses, informs clinicians about predicting outcomes and guiding therapeutic interventions. Despite limitations, this work underscores the need for further multi-center research to comprehensively understand the complex relationships between burn injuries, hematological responses, and clinical outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Respectful maternity care promotes practices that acknowledge women's preferences and women and newborns' needs. It is an individual-centered strategy founded on ethical and human rights principles. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the impact of income on maternal care and respectful maternity care in low- and middle-income countries. Materials and Methods: Data were searched from Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, NCBI, CINAHL, National Library of Medicine, ResearchGate, MEDLINE, EMBASE database, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Maternity and Infant Care database. This review followed PRISMA guidelines. The initial search for publications comparing low- and middle-income countries with respectful maternity care yielded 6000 papers, from which 700 were selected. The review articles were further analyzed to ensure they were pertinent to the comparative impact of income on maternal care. A total of 24 articles were included, with preference given to those published from 2010 to 2023 during the last fourteen years. Results: Considering this study's findings, respectful maternity care is a crucial component of high-quality care and human rights. It can be estimated that there is a direct association between income and maternity care in LMICs, and maternity care is substandard compared to high-income countries. Moreover, it is determined that the evidence for medical tools that can enhance respectful maternity care is sparse. Conclusions: This review highlights the significance of improving maternal care experiences, emphasizing the importance of promoting respectful practices and addressing disparities in low- and middle-income countries.
Subject(s)
Maternal Health Services , United States , Infant , Female , Pregnancy , Infant, Newborn , Humans , Developing Countries , Quality of Health Care , Income , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of proximal decay in the permanent first molar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Oral Medicine, Dow Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences. A total of 171 patients presenting with 227 first molars were included. Calibrated examiners performed a detailed history and examination using a specialized form. The form recorded caries predictors and assigned a caries risk category based on the presence of these predictors. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS for windows version 17. A descriptive analysis was used to calculate the mean and proportions. Backward regression was carried out to evaluate the predictor for caries on mesial and distal surfaces at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The included 171 patients presented with a total of 227 decayed first molars and 412 decayed proximal surfaces. The mesial surface was found to be more affected by decay (0.92 ± 0.85). The caries risk profile explains 60%, and caries on the adjacent surface explains 90% of caries occurrence on the mesial surface. In the case of distal surfaces, the predictor which can cause caries significantly was caries risk only. The caries risk profile explains the 3% of caries occurrence on distal surfaces. CONCLUSION: Our study identified caries on the adjacent tooth surface and the caries risk profile as significant predictors of future caries risk for the mesial surface of permanent molars. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Predictors for mesial and distal surfaces of the permanent first molar may differ. Overall caries risk and status of adjacent teeth must be taken into account to predict future caries occurrence.
