Summary
Oral conditions are highly prevalent and affect the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sociodemographic and oral conditions on OHRQoL in preschool children from Temuco, Chile. A cross-sectional study was carried out in preschool children between 3 and 5 years of age who attend INTEGRA kindergartens in Temuco, Chile. The prevalence of caries, malocclusions, traumatic dental injuries, anterior and posterior hypoplasia, presence of plaque, and gingivitis was measured by four previously calibrated examiners. The OHRQoL was measured through the Spanish version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). Parents also completed a questionnaire on the child’s sociodemographic background. The bivariate association between clinical and sociodemographic variables with OHRQoL was carried out through non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis or Mann Whitney). Subsequently, a multivariate analysis was performed using a general linear model to associate the different factors with OHRQoL. Two hundred and two preschoolers were included (105 boys and 97 girls) with a mean age of 3.3 (SD 0.6). The mean score and standard deviation (SD) of the total ECOHIS were 2.60 and 4.64 respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that preschool children who have widowed parents or caregivers (PR = 2.93; p = <0.001) and a dmft index > to 5 (PR = 7.16; p = <0.001), had a negative impact on OHRQoL. No association was found with other sociodemographic or clinical variables. The presence of a dmft > 5 and living with widowed caregiver had a negative impact on the OHRQoL of preschool children and their parents.
KEY WORDS: Oral health; quality of life, child, preschool.
How to cite this article
NÚÑEZ-CONTRERAS, J.; HOFER-DURÁN, P.; SINSAY-SCHMEISSER, J. & ZAROR, C. Impact of Sociodemographic and Oral Conditions on Oral Health Related Quality of Life in Preschool Children From Temuco, Chile. Int. J. Odontostomat., 15(2):503-512, 2021.
