Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Nov 15;16(1):123.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-016-0318-5.

Oral-health-related background factors and dental service utilisation among Sudanese children with and without a congenital heart defects

H M Ali  1 , M Mustafa  2 , E F Nasir  2   3 , S A Lie  4 , S Hasabalrasol  5 , O H Elshazali  6 , R W Ali  7 , M S Skeie  4
Affiliations

Oral-health-related background factors and dental service utilisation among Sudanese children with and without a congenital heart defects

H M Ali et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Sudanese children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) were found to have poorer oral health than those without CHDs. The aims of this study were to: describe the patterns of oral-health-related background factors in children with and without CHD and explore any differences, and to evaluate the effects of background factors on caries and gingivitis prevalence and dental services utilisation.

Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, caregivers of children aged 3-12 years with (CHD cases n = 111) and without CHDs (Controls n = 182), underwent face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire items covered several oral health background factors (independent variables) including: child's health status, oral hygiene practices, dental services utilization, mother's level of education, and caregiver's perception and awareness of their child's oral health. The relationship between these factors and occurrence of 'caries' and 'gingivitis' as well as 'child's dental services utilisation' (dependent variables) were explored using multiple adjusted and hierarchal logistic regression analyses.

Results: Compared with controls, CHD cases had lower frequencies of brushing and use of fluoridated toothpaste, and their caregivers were less knowledgeable about caries. Among CHD cases, the variables (brushing and fluoridated toothpaste use) had significant impacts on caries prevalence (odd ratio (OR) =5.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-22.8 and OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.8 for infrequent compared to frequent ones, respectively) as well as the mother's level of education (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.0-6.4). When differences in background factors were controlled for, the adjusted ORs for caries and gingivitis prevalence in CHD cases compared with controls were 1.8, (95% CI: 1.1-3.2) and 5.3 (95% CI: 2.9-9.4), respectively. Among CHD cases, the child's age (8-12 years: OR = 11.9, 95% CI: 1.9-71.6), and the mother's level of education (lower education: OR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.03-0.9) were significantly associated with the child's dental services utilisation.

Conclusions: Lower frequencies of brushing and use of fluoride tooth paste were reported among CHD cases, and brushing had the predominant significant impact on caries prevalence. The child's age and the mother's level of education were the main factors affecting the child's (CHD cases) dental services utilisation.

Keywords: Caries; Children; Congenital heart defects; Dental health services; Gingivitis; Oral health background factors.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Modified health service use according to Anderson’s model
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. van der Linde D, Konings EE, Slager MA, Witsenburg M, Helbing WA, Takkenberg JJ, Roos-Hesselink JW. Birth prevalence of congenital heart disease worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;58(21):2241–7. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2011.08.025. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Slavkin HC, Baum BJ. Relationship of dental and oral pathology to systemic illness. JAMA. 2000;284(10):1215–7. doi: 10.1001/jama.284.10.1215. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Saunders C, Roberts G. Dental attitudes, knowledge, and health practices of parents of children with congenital heart disease. Arch Dis Child. 1997;76(6):539–40. doi: 10.1136/adc.76.6.539. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Parahitiyawa NB, Jin LJ, Leung WK, Yam WC, Samaranayake LP. Microbiology of odontogenic bacteremia: beyond endocarditis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2009;22(1):46–64. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00028-08. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wilson W, Taubert KA, Gewitz M, Lockhart PB, Baddour LM, Levison M, Bolger A, Cabell CH, Takahashi M, Baltimore RS. Prevention of Infective Endocarditis Guidelines From the American Heart Association: A Guideline From the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group. Circulation. 2007;116(15):1736–54. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.183095. - DOI - PubMed