Evaluation of the Health Status of Children under 5 Years of Age of the Children’s Development Centers in Manizales

Objectives: To identify the characteristics of oral health, growth and development, nutrition and social determination.
Methods: descriptive study with sample of 400 children. An oral examination was performed by calibrated dentists. The abbreviated scale of growth and development and anthropometric indicators were performed by a professional nurse and a survey to parents was applied by a communicator. Analyses were made using SPSS, SPAD, Excel and Anthro.
Results: average of ceo-d 1.35, increases according to the age. The average was higher in men. The caries experience with ceo index was 39% and with ICDAS criteria was 91%. Respectively, 51% and 49% showed normal horizontal and vertical overbite. The abbreviated scale of growth and development showed an alert related to the four indicators and their percentages lower than 7%. 79% had normal height for the age. 75% had normal weight for the age and 94% had normal body mass index (BMI). Social insertion: the father was the main money provider (54%). He has completed university studies (30%) and he was an employee (37%). The money provider makes the job (76%). Way of life: They had a legal contract (63%). The income is lower than a minimum wage (35%). They consider that being healthy is not to feel any pain (68%). Half of the children have been the product of an unplanned pregnancy. Life styles: The mother was the primary caregiver (75%). The patient has visited a dentist (86%). The patient has had a dental pain (13%). The multivariate analysis showed two groups. Groups were differentiated by the caries experience and the variables of affiliation to the social security, income, occupation, stratum, educational level of the primary caregiver, and age of the mother.
Conclusions: The characteristics of social determination identified and the high caries experience of children show the need to have interventions.