IADR Abstract Archives
Oral Health Related Factors among Children with Congenital Heart Defects
Objectives: i) to describe oral health complaints, access and use of dental services among children with congenital heart defects (CHD) compared to controls without CHD, and ii) to compare mothers’ dental health related knowledge among both groups.
Methods: Sudanese mothers of children with CHD (cases, N= 117, 3-12 yrs.) and without CHD (controls, N=190, 3-12 yrs.), were invited to participate in a face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. Interview items included: a) child’s oral complaints during last 6 months b) child’s access and use of dental services c) importance of tooth brushing and fluoride use in preventing caries d) impact of frequent intake of sugared foods/drinks on caries, e) impact of sugared milk/drinks in bottle during nights on caries.
Results: The response rates were 94.8% (cases) and 95.7% (controls). Young cases (3-7 yrs.) were reported with statistically higher prevalence of oral complaints from mouth dryness and infected sore gums compared to controls (25.3% vs 4%, p<0.05and 14.8% vs. 5%, p<0.05), respectively. Unavailability of a near dental clinic was reported more often among cases’ mothers (34.2%) than controls (14.2%), (p<0.05). Reports of the child’s dental visit were unsatisfactory; 21.8% among cases and 21.6% among controls. Mothers’ knowledge regarding the importance of brushing and fluoride use was similar among cases and controls. Eleven percent of cases’ mothers didn’t know the negative impact of sugared foods/drinks on caries, compared to 1.7% in the controls’ mothers (p<0.05). Thirty-six percent of the cases’ mothers vs 19.7% of the controls’ mothers, did not know that sugared milk/drinks in bottle during nights is causing tooth decay(p<0.05).
Conclusions: Cases were reported with more oral health complaints than controls. Among cases, mothers reported lower access to dental care. In both groups low dental visits for children were reported. Lastly, cases’ mothers had lower knowledge about factors causing caries.
Methods: Sudanese mothers of children with CHD (cases, N= 117, 3-12 yrs.) and without CHD (controls, N=190, 3-12 yrs.), were invited to participate in a face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. Interview items included: a) child’s oral complaints during last 6 months b) child’s access and use of dental services c) importance of tooth brushing and fluoride use in preventing caries d) impact of frequent intake of sugared foods/drinks on caries, e) impact of sugared milk/drinks in bottle during nights on caries.
Results: The response rates were 94.8% (cases) and 95.7% (controls). Young cases (3-7 yrs.) were reported with statistically higher prevalence of oral complaints from mouth dryness and infected sore gums compared to controls (25.3% vs 4%, p<0.05and 14.8% vs. 5%, p<0.05), respectively. Unavailability of a near dental clinic was reported more often among cases’ mothers (34.2%) than controls (14.2%), (p<0.05). Reports of the child’s dental visit were unsatisfactory; 21.8% among cases and 21.6% among controls. Mothers’ knowledge regarding the importance of brushing and fluoride use was similar among cases and controls. Eleven percent of cases’ mothers didn’t know the negative impact of sugared foods/drinks on caries, compared to 1.7% in the controls’ mothers (p<0.05). Thirty-six percent of the cases’ mothers vs 19.7% of the controls’ mothers, did not know that sugared milk/drinks in bottle during nights is causing tooth decay(p<0.05).
Conclusions: Cases were reported with more oral health complaints than controls. Among cases, mothers reported lower access to dental care. In both groups low dental visits for children were reported. Lastly, cases’ mothers had lower knowledge about factors causing caries.