de Goes, Paulo Savio Angeiras; (2001) The prevalence and impact of dental pain in Brazilian school children and their families. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

Text out.pdf Download (33MB)

Abstract

There is little research on the prevalence of toothache in young people. In addition, the impact of toothache on children and their families is unknown. Furthermore, there is a lack of research on the association between toothache and sociodental impacts on the daily life performances of children. Aim and Hypotheses: The aim of present study was to investigate the prevalence, severity and the impact of toothache on the daily life activities in Brazilian schoolchildren and their families. Two main hypotheses were tested. First, it was hypothesized that children from low socio-economic backgrounds had a higher prevalence and severity of toothache with an associated higher impact from toothache on them and their families' daily activities than those from high socioeconomic backgrounds. Also, was hypothesized that children from low socio-economic backgrounds, through the mediating effects of presence and severity of toothache, had more overall oral health impacts on daily activities than high socio-economic status children. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in Recife-PE, Brazil. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and clinical dental examinations on a random sample of 14-15 years old schoolchildren (1052 out 1112). A questionnaire was sent to their families. 710 out of 1052 parents replied. The prevalence of dental pain and its characteristics were recorded using standards measures of pain (Melzack, 1992; Shepherd, 1995, McGrath, 1996). The impact of toothache was assessed using methods developed by Shepherd (1995) and McGrath (1996) and the sociodental impacts by the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances - OIDP (Adulyanon and Sheiham, 1997). Dental caries, dental trauma and dental plaque were assessed using the criteria of the WHO (1997), The Child Dental Health Survey (O'Brien 1995) and Silness and Loe (1964). Data analysis included bivariate analysis followed by multiple logistic and ordinal polytomous regression. Results: The prevalence of reported toothache in schoolchildren in the last six months was 33.6% and 8.2% reported toothache of greater severity. Children from low socio-economic position were 1.6 times (p=0.001) more likely to report toothache, 1.5 times (p=0.007) more likely to report toothache of great severity, 2.3 times (p=0.000) more likely to report an impact related with toothache and their families were 1.6 times (p=0.048) more likely to report an impact due their child's toothache than children and their families from high socioeconomic position. In addition, children from low socio-economic position were 2.6 times (p=0.000) more likely to report a sociodental impact than their counterparts from high socio-economic position. Conclusions: The prevalence of toothache in 14-15 years old schoolchildren was high. Toothache of higher severity and longer duration was less frequent. Socio-economic position was associated with the prevalence, severity and impact of toothache in the children and their families. In addition, sociodental impacts were associated with socio-economic position. However sociodental impacts were not associated with the prevalence and severity of toothache.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as CSVXMLJSON

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as JSONCSVXML

Archive Staff Only

View Item