Tefera Amare Teshome, Bekele Biruk Girma, Aniley Zelalem, Adane Aynishet, Ayele Tadesse Awoke, Getahun Kefyalew Ayalew, Handebo Simegnew, Ali Semira, Muche Abebe
Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Oral Health. 2025 May 28;25(1):817. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-06239-0.
Malocclusion is one of the most common oral health conditions globally, following dental caries and periodontal disease. It affects both function and appearance and can lead to psychological distress, social challenges, and an increased risk of dental diseases. However, little is known about its burden among students with disabilities in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of malocclusion among students in special needs schools in the Amhara region, Ethiopia.
A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to April 2021 among students attending special needs schools in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 396 students attending special needs schools in the region using a pre-designed, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The occlusal status of the study participants was evaluated using Angle's classification of malocclusion and was leveled as class-I, class-II, or class-III. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was done to identify potential predictors of malocclusion among the study participants. Data cleaning and coding were done using EpiData and the analysis was done using SPSS version 26.
A total of 396 students were involved in the study with a mean age of 16.55 years (± 3.466 SD). The prevalence of malocclusion among students in special needs schools was 42.9% (95%CI; 37.9, 47.9). The magnitude of malocclusion was high among physically disabled (56.0%) and intellectually disabled students (51.7%). The regression analysis indicated that being intellectually disabled (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4, 6.3), visually impaired (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.4), and medical comorbidity (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-5.3) were independent predictors of malocclusion among students attending special need schools in Amhara region, Ethiopia.
This study revealed a high prevalence of malocclusion among students in special needs schools. Key predictors included intellectual disability, visual impairment, and the presence of medical comorbidities. These findings underscore the urgent need for accessible orthodontic care for students with disabilities. The Ministry of Health should implement targeted oral health interventions and educational programs, particularly for those with intellectual and visual impairments. Future research should explore the causal pathways linking disability and malocclusion through longitudinal studies to overcome the limitations of cross-sectional data.
错牙合畸形是全球最常见的口腔健康问题之一，仅次于龋齿和牙周疾病。它会影响功能和外观，并可能导致心理困扰、社交挑战以及患牙病风险增加。然而，在埃塞俄比亚，关于其在残疾学生中的负担情况却知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚阿姆哈拉地区特殊需求学校学生中错牙合畸形的患病率及相关因素。
2020年11月至2021年4月，在埃塞俄比亚阿姆哈拉地区的特殊需求学校学生中开展了一项基于学校的横断面研究。使用预先设计的、结构化的、由访谈员管理的问卷，从该地区396名特殊需求学校的学生中收集数据。采用安氏错牙合分类法评估研究参与者的咬合状况，并分为I类、II类或III类。进行多变量二元逻辑回归分析，以确定研究参与者中错牙合畸形的潜在预测因素。使用EpiData进行数据清理和编码，并使用SPSS 26版进行分析。
共有396名学生参与研究，平均年龄为16.55岁（±3.466标准差）。特殊需求学校学生中错牙合畸形的患病率为42.9%（95%置信区间；37.9，47.9）。身体残疾学生（56.0%）和智力残疾学生（51.7%）中的错牙合畸形程度较高。回归分析表明，智力残疾（比值比=3.0，95%置信区间：1.4，6.3）、视力障碍（比值比=1.9，95%置信区间：1.1，3.4）和合并症（比值比=2.5，95%置信区间：1.2 - 5.3）是埃塞俄比亚阿姆哈拉地区特殊需求学校学生中错牙合畸形的独立预测因素。
本研究揭示了特殊需求学校学生中错牙合畸形的高患病率。主要预测因素包括智力残疾、视力障碍和合并症的存在。这些发现强调了为残疾学生提供可及正畸护理的迫切需求。卫生部应实施有针对性的口腔健康干预措施和教育项目，特别是针对那些有智力和视力障碍的学生。未来的研究应通过纵向研究探索将残疾与错牙合畸形联系起来的因果途径，以克服横断面数据的局限性。
