Fatores contextuais e comportamentais associados à prevalência de cárie em escolares de Santa Cruz do Sul - RS.

Abstract

Even though caries decline in Brazil is observed, it is still a common public health problem, affecting many people around the world. Caries is multifactorial, that is, it depends on some factors for the appearance of the lesion, such as diet and hygiene. A healthy diet and oral hygiene care positively help the individual's oral and general health. Furthermore, the context in which individuals live also reflects both their general and oral health conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of caries in 12-year-old schoolchildren in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul - RS and to analyze the relationship with the consumption of cariogenic foods and oral hygiene, and whether there is a difference in the prevalence of caries among students from urban and rural area. The research was cross-sectional and quantitative, and the data made it possible to verify the population's oral health needs. The basis of this study was composed of 12-year-old students from public schools in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul. Trained and calibrated examiners performed the oral examination including dental caries, using the CPOD index (number of decayed, missing teeth) and restored), visible plaque index and fluorosis (assessed using the Dean index). The students answered a self-administered questionnaire, evaluating behavioral aspects such as oral hygiene habits and diet. The data used for this study were related to the location of the school (urban or rural), food consumption, oral hygiene and caries prevalence, and were analyzed using the STATA 14.0 statistical program. A descriptive analysis was performed with the distribution of absolute and relative frequencies of the variables used and the mean of DMFT with its respective standard deviation. Results are presented as prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval. A total of 712 students were evaluated and 656 underwent the clinical examination for the DMFT, which the average was 0.87. Most students studied in schools located in urban areas (84.1%), used a toothbrush (98.3%), toothpaste (97.6%) and floss (69.9%). Schoolchildren who studied in rural areas had 2.08 times higher prevalence of DMFT (PR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.43-3.03), as well as those who did not use a toothbrush, who had 2, 14 times higher prevalence (PR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.13-4.06). Also, those with visible bacterial plaque on their teeth had a 46% higher prevalence of DMFT (PR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.16-1.83). The consumption of sticky foods such as candies, chocolates and party sweets a few times a week was frequent (63.7%), as well as chewing gum with sugar (55%) and packaged snacks (60.5%). The consumption of gum with sugar a few times a week was a protective factor for worse DMFT when compared to those who consumed it every day (PR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.37-0.75). It is concluded that students who studied in rural areas had a higher prevalence of DMFT, as well as those who did not use a toothbrush and those who had visible plaque on their teeth.