Oral health related quality of life in schoolchildren

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of certain socioeconomic factors, educational level and access to health care can condition the levels of oral health-related Quality of Life, especially in life stages such as childhood. Objective: To determine the association of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life in students. Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study from a database of 144 schoolchildren (11-12 years old). The dependent variable was Quality of Life related to oral health, measured with the Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances index. A descriptive analysis and Mann Whitney U and Chi-square tests were performed, and a linear logistic regression was applied, with a confidence level of 95% and p< 0,05. Results: The 69.44% (n= 100) presented very low impact intensity. The provenance presented significant differences with cleaning the mouth and total impact (p< 0.05), and sex with talking and studying (p< 0.05). From the linear regression, provenance was associated with severity of cleaning mouth performance (R2 %= 0.039, a= 0.527, b= 0.347, p= 0.017) and total impact (R2 %= 0.036, a= 4.831, b= 4.824, p= 0.023), sex was associated with talking (R2%= 0.034, a= 0.498, b= -0.137, p= 0.026). Conclusion: The intensity of the impact was very little in the quality of life related to oral health; in addition, the origin was associated with cleaning the mouth and total impact, while gender was associated with speaking; all this in schoolchildren aged 11 and 12.

Keywords

• calidad de vida
• salud bucal
• niño
• atención odontológica.