title: [Evaluation of oral health and access to care in senegalese children with Down syndrome: preliminary study].
abstract: Down syndrom is the most frequent genetic disease discribed for viable (live born) children and the commonest cause of mental deficiency in developed countries. It is an autosomal chromosomic anomaly resulting from trisomy of all or part of chromosome 21 and is characterizd by general and mental deficiencies and a typical facial phenotype. The aims of this study are:--to evaluate the general and oral health of a senegalese group of children with Down syndrome and their siblings the closest in age,--to assess their access to care. We used the OADS (Oral Assessment Down Syndrome) questionnaire in 25 senegalese children with Down syndrome living in Dakar and 17 od their siblings the closest in age. Their ages range from 4 to 20 years old in both groups. Our results revealed that senegalese children with Down syndrome have more general and oral health problems compared to their siblings the closest in age but they were more likely to have difficulty finding both medical and dental services. This study pointed out the need for special care services with trained people for a better management of these specific patients.
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Odontostomatologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faye
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hennequin
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010641:Phenotype; D012675:Senegal; D035781:Siblings