Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in a Paediatric Population in the Dominican Republic.

Introduction: During the summer of 2019 and within the framework of a social dentistry program carried out in the low-income town of San Francisco de Macorís (Dominican Republic), a descriptive study was carried out on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), aiming to find out the oral health status of a population of children in the aforementioned Dominican city. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the oral health status of a child population and its relationship with the quality of life perceived by these children in the aforementioned population of San Francisco de Macorís in order to develop an specific oral health program taking into account not only the existing oral health status but also the perceptions and feelings of the child population in this regard. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of children who were examined on their oral health status, following WHO guidelines, by professionals from the University of Seville (Spain) together with professionals from private practice (USA) and students from the Universidad Católica Nordestana (UCNE, Dominican Republic). Likewise, the children's parents voluntarily completed the Oral Quality of Life questionnaire COHIP-19 in its culturally adapted Spanish version. Results: For this purpose, 94 children with a mean age of 10.34 (SD 3.38) were observed in our study following WHO recommendations for oral health studies and evaluating OHQoL using the specific questionnaire validated in Spanish COHIP-19 in its short format (SF). The results show a state of oral health with a significant prevalence of caries (80.9%) and a DMFT of 1.70 (SD 1.90). The OHQoL perceived by these children shows that pain, bad breath or feeling sad because of the condition of their teeth were the factors with the worst evaluation score. Conclusions: The conclusion that mainly emerges from this study is that caries continues to be the main problem to be solved (more than other variables studied, such as malocclusion or fluorosis), and this ailment also causes pain, dysfunction, and bad breath and is therefore perceived as a problem to be solved in the children of this Dominican city.

Food insecurity is associated with self-reported oral health in school-age Ecuadorian children and is mediated by dietary and non-dietary factors.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to investigate the association of household food insecurity (HFI) with child oral health. A secondary objective was to explore potential dietary and non-dietary mediators of the HFI-child oral health relationship. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from the nationally representative Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey (2018) were analysed. The data included self-reported child oral health, HFI (Food Insecurity Experience Scale), diet (FFQ) and oral care behaviours (toothbrushing frequency, toothpaste use). The association of HFI with the reported number of oral health problems was examined with stereotype logistic regression. Parallel mediation analysis was used to explore potential dietary (highly fermentable carbohydrate foods, plain water) and non-dietary (toothbrushing) mediators of the HFI-oral health relationship. Bias-corrected standard errors and 95 % CI were obtained using non-parametric bootstrapping (10 000 repetitions). Effect size was measured by percent mediation (PM). SETTING: Ecuador. PARTICIPANTS: 5-17-year-old children (n 23 261). RESULTS: HFI affected 23 % of child households. 38·5 % of children have at least one oral health problem. HFI was associated with a greater number of oral health problems: 1-2 problems (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1·37; 95 % CI (1·15, 1·58); P = 0·0001), 3-4 problems (AOR = 2·21; 95 % CI (1·98, 2·44); P = 0·0001), 5-6 problems (AOR = 2·57; 95 % CI (2·27, 2·88); P = 0·0001). The HFI-oral health relationship was partially mediated by highly fermentable carbohydrate foods (PM = 4·3 %), plain water (PM = 1·8 %) and toothbrushing frequency (PM = 3·3 %). CONCLUSIONS: HFI was associated with poorer child oral health. The HFI-oral health relationship was partially mediated by dietary and non-dietary factors. Longitudinal studies are needed to replicate our findings and investigate the role of other potential mediators.

Psychosocial factors and oral health practices of preschool-aged children: a qualitative study with Hispanic mothers.

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study sought to gain an in-depth understanding of Hispanic mother's parenting experiences and perceptions about select psychosocial factors. How psychosocial factors influence mothers' engagement in recommended oral health-related behaviors for their preschool-aged children (3-5 years) was explored. Psychosocial resources and barriers explored included maternal knowledge about children's oral health, beliefs such as perceived self-efficacy and health locus of control, and parenting experience and stress. DESIGN: Six focus groups and one individual interview with lower-income, Hispanic mothers of preschoolers (n = 36 total participants) were conducted in Spanish at a community health clinic on the California-Mexico border during summer 2010. A bilingual dentist led all sessions using a set of open-ended guiding questions. All sessions were audio-taped, translated and transcribed in English. Transcripts were coded and analyzed for common themes. RESULT(S): Six themes were identified around dental knowledge, the mothers' primary role in performing the child's oral hygiene among multiple caregiving priorities, parenting challenges, perceived self-efficacy, perceived future outlook for their child's oral health, and family influences. Mothers recognized the importance of caring for primary teeth. However, few were knowledgeable about preventive practices to promote young children's oral health, such as the recommended ages for brushing or first dental visit. Mothers that were more knowledgeable expressed feeling more efficacious about maintaining their child's oral hygiene. All mothers believed they were primarily responsible for their child's oral health, and most held positive future expectations for their child's oral health. CONCLUSION: These findings provide insight into how Hispanic mothers of young children perceive their role as caregiver. Maternal knowledge and perceptions affect their ability to care for their child's oral health and should be accounted for in future interventions.

Child, caregiver, and family factors associated with child dental utilization among Mexican migrant families in California.

OBJECTIVE: To identify associations between child, caregiver, and family-level factors and child dental utilization. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional oral health survey. PARTICIPANTS: Caregivers and one study child (ages 0-17) from Mexican migrant families in northern San Diego county, CA (n=142). METHODS: Caregivers reported on child's dental care utilization history and related factors, including: child (age, gender, dental insurance, source of care, believed to have cavities), caregiver (marital status, income, education, acculturation level, depressive symptoms), and family cohesion. Descriptive and logistic regression models identified predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with child dental utilization during the past year. RESULTS: Most (76%) children had visited the dentist in the past year, while 8.6% had never been. Child factors (gender, insurance), caregiver factors (education, depressive symptoms), and family cohesion were each associated with child dental utilization in the bivariate analyses. In the final adjusted model, uninsured children were less likely to have a past year dental visit compared to insured children (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.23, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.06-0.96). Children whose caregivers visited the dentist were 4.29 times more likely to visit the dentist in the past year (CI=1.36-13.61). Higher caregiver education was positively associated with child dental utilization (OR=4.50, CI=1.50-13.55). CONCLUSION: Child age and dental insurance, and caregiver education and dental utilization history were associated with whether or not a child had a past year dental visit. Ensuring child dental coverage and caregiver access to dental care may promote regular dental utilization by children.

Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal em crianças com anemia falciforme e suas famílias: há uma correlação entre o relato de pais e filhos? / Oral Health-related Quality of Life in children with Sickle Cell Disease and your Family: There is a correlation between the reports of parents and children?

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a correlação filho-pais na avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal de crianças e de suas famílias e determinar as características associadas a essa correlação em uma população pediátrica com anemia falciforme. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 106 crianças, de 8 a 14 anos, com diagnóstico de anemia falciforme (AF), no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil, e seus pais/cuidadores. Estas crianças estavam fazendo acompanhamento de saúde na Fundação Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Minas Gerais (Hemominas). A qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (QVRSB) foi mensurada, utilizando-se as versões brasileiras dos instrumentos Child Perception Questionnaire para crianças de 8 a 10 anos (CPQ8-10) e de 11 a 14 anos (versão curta do CPQ11-14), o Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) e o Family Impact Scale (FIS). Um dentista calibrado realizou os exames clínicos bucais para avaliação da experiência de cárie dentária, má oclus¿o e sangramento gengival, segundo os critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS). As informações sobre a AF, as características sócio-demográficas e econômicas foram obtidas por meio de entrevistas realizadas com os pais/responsáveis pelas crianças. Os dados foram analisados por meio do teste de correlação de Spearman e regressão linear. Houve uma forte correlação entre P-CPQ e FIS (rs=0,732). Foi observada correlação moderada entre as avaliações de QVRSB realizadas pela criança (CPQ) e pelo pai-proxy (P-CPQ) (rs=0,433). Ao se analisar a correlação entre a avaliação da QVRSB realizada pelas crianças (CPQ) e o impacto na família (FIS) relatado pelos pais, observou-se uma correlação fraca (rs=0,331). Maiores diferenças no z-escore entre P-CPQ e FIS foram associadas com a menor idade do filho (p<0,01), mais baixa espiritualidade/religiosidade (p<0,05), menor renda familiar (p<0,01) e severidade da má oclusão dentária (p<0,05)...

More recently, there has been increasing interest in the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children, since pediatric oral disorders are likely to have a negative effect on the child quality of life (QoL). One issue that receives a great deal of attention is the comparison of the measurement of children OHRQoL reports with those of their parents. In this way, three systematic reviews were carried out to review the literature on valid and reliable informations from children and parents concerning child OHRQoL, and to identify the pattern of agreement/disagreement between their reports. The literature was searched using Medline, ISI, Lilacs and Scielo, from 1985-2007. Two researchers independently checked and then selected only articles that used well-validated instruments, provided quantitative measurements of child clinical oral health status, and presented children and parental perceptions of child OHRQoL. In the first systematic review, from 89 records found, thirteen fulfilled the criteria. All selected studies suggested good construct validity. However, child understanding of oral health and well-being are affected by age, age-related experiences, gender, race, education, culture, experiences related to oral conditions, opportunities for treatment, childhood period of changes, back-translating questionnaire and child self-perceived treatment need. Twelve of 402 articles originally identified were included in the second systematic review. The results showed that the relationships between clinical oral health status and QoL in children were not direct, but mediated by a variety of personal, social and environmental variables, as well as by the child development, which have influence on the comprehension about the relationship among health, illness and QoL. In the third one, out of 87 articles that were critically assessed, five studies were selected ...

Estado de salud oral y asistencia al control odontológico en escolares de 12 años, comuna de penco, región del biobío / Oral health status and dental assistance control in 12-year-old school children in the penco municipality, biobío region

La caries dental y la enfermedad periodontal poseen una alta prevalencia en los distintos grupos etarios a nivel nacional generando un problema sanitario complejo. El objetivo fue evaluar el estado de salud oral y asistencia al control odontológico en pacientes escolares de 12 años en la comuna de Penco. Se realizó un estudio observacional analítico con un muestreo sistemático de 214 de escolares de 12 años. La prevalencia de caries fue de 61,03 por ciento, sin diferencia estadística entre sexo (valor p~0,29). El COPD promedio fue 3,44. El 47 por ciento asistió al dentista en los últimos 6 meses. El promedio COPD disminuyó en los últimos 10 años (de 4,77 a 3,44), siendo estadísticamente significativo (valor p~0,00). De acuerdo a los indicadores observados, se concluye que los escolares de 12 años presentan un mal estado de salud oral y menos de la mitad ha asistido a control los últimos 6 meses.

Dental caries and periodontal disease have a high prevalence in the different age groups, creating a complex health problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the state of oral health and dental attendance controls in 12-year-old patients at the elementary school in the town of Penco. We used a descriptive trans-sectional study with systematic sample of two hundred and fourteen (214) 12-year-old schoolchildren. The results showed a prevalence of caries of 61.03 percent, with no statistical difference between sexes (value p ~ 0.29). The COPD average was 3.44. Of the studied population 47 percent have been attended by the dentist in the last 6 months. The average COPD has declined in the last 10 years (from 4.77 to 3.44) with statistically significant value p ~ 0.00. According to the indicators observed, we conclude that 12-year-old school children have poor oral health and less than half have been monitored in the last 6 months.