[Socioeconomic variables and the prevalence of dental caries in second and sixth grade Quebec children in 1989-90].
OBJECTIVE
1) To determine caries risk factors in second and sixth grade Quebec children; 2)To test multivariate models which identify children as belonging to a high prevalence group.


METHODS
For the 1989-90 Santé Dentaire Québec survey, 2,291 second grade and 2,111 sixth grade school children responded to a questionnaire on their personal habits of hygiene and diet and underwent a clinical examination, while their parents answered a questionnaire regarding their family's socio-economic status.


RESULTS
Statistics demonstrate a stronger link between socioeconomic variables and caries prevalence than demographic and sanitary factors. Children emerging from a high socioeconomic milieu have better dental health than children with low socioeconomic standing. The most effective model, However, registers a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 66%, revealing the inadequacy of statistical models to accurately identify children in the caries high prevalence group.
Brodeur
J M
JM
Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Centre-ville, Québec. brodeuje@ere.umontreal.ca
Payette
M
M
Bedos
C
C
D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors