Prevalence of Caries and Factors Associated with Institutionalized Special Children from Recife-PE

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this research was to determine caries prevalence and this behavior and social parents factors among 50 special children with auditive and visual deficiencies of both sexes, aged 6 to 12, Recife/PE - Brasil, in 2000. METHODS: The research had two phases, the first phase, a questionnaire about behavior and social factors according to ABA-ABIPEME criteria; the second phase a clinical exam to determine the caries index according WHO criteria. Data analysed the not parametrics tests: Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney (to compare independents samples); the Wilcoxon and Homogeneity (to compare correlates samples) and the Bonferoni Method (multiples comparisons). RESULTS: Caries prevalence for both groups was low (DMF-T=2,7 and dmf-t=2,0 for auditive deficiency children; DMF-T=2,7 and dmf-t=1,5 for visual deficiency children); the relationship between caries experience and sugar consumption (P<0,001 X dmf-t=3,2; P<0,005 X DMF-T=2,8) and the snacking at night (P<0,036 X dmf-t=3,3)was statiscally significant for auditive deficiency children; the relatioship between parents status and caries experience was significant for auditive deficiency children whose parents were social class D (P<0,035); for both groups the dmf-t index was significantly lower (dmf-t=1,0 for auditive deficiency children; dmf-t=0,8 for visual deficiency children) whose parents had a higher income (social class B). CONCLUSIONS: in general caries experience was low for both groups; however the caries experience was higher for auditive deficiency children whose parents were lower social class; caries experience for primary dentition was lower for both groups when the parents were higher social class; the relationship between behavior factors and caries experience was significant for auditive deficiency children.