Wandera Margaret, Kayondo Josephine, Engebretsen Ingunn Marie S, Okullo Isaac, Astrøm Anne Nordrehaug
Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Int J Paediatr Dent. 2009 Jul;19(4):251-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2009.00969.x. Epub 2009 Mar 23.
The impact of oral diseases on quality of life of children and their families has not been thoroughly investigated.
Focusing on Ugandan infants aged 6-36 months and their caregivers, this study examined the degree to which clinical and psychosocial factors were associated with caregivers' overall evaluation of their children's oral health and health status.
Eight hundred and sixteen children were examined for dental caries and anthropometric status in 2007. A questionnaire was completed by the caregivers.
Poor child oral health was reported by 40.2% and 17.5% of caregivers who reported their children's health as, respectively, poor and good. Having the least family wealth [odds ratio (OR) = 1.9] and reporting distressed family activities (OR = 2.3) were associated with higher odds of reporting poor child oral health, whereas being a rural resident (OR = 0.4) and reporting no symptoms during tooth eruption (OR = 0.3) were associated with lower odds. Perception of poor child oral health (OR = 2.8) and having the least family wealth (OR = 1.7) were associated with higher odds of reporting poor child health status, whereas no stunting was associated with lower odds (OR = 0.5).
The results support the growing recognition of oral health as a predictor of health and well-being in early childhood.
口腔疾病对儿童及其家庭生活质量的影响尚未得到充分研究。
本研究以6至36个月大的乌干达婴儿及其照顾者为重点，调查了临床和社会心理因素与照顾者对其子女口腔健康和健康状况总体评价的关联程度。
2007年对816名儿童进行了龋齿和人体测量状况检查。照顾者完成了一份问卷。
在报告子女健康状况分别为差和好的照顾者中，分别有40.2%和17.5%报告子女口腔健康状况差。家庭财富最少（优势比[OR]=1.9）和报告家庭活动困难（OR=2.3）与报告子女口腔健康状况差的较高几率相关，而作为农村居民（OR=0.4）和报告出牙期间无症状（OR=0.3）与较低几率相关。认为子女口腔健康状况差（OR=2.8）和家庭财富最少（OR=1.7）与报告子女健康状况差的较高几率相关，而无发育迟缓与较低几率相关（OR=0.5）。
研究结果支持了越来越多的人将口腔健康视为幼儿健康和幸福预测指标的观点。
