Subjective impacts of dental caries and fluorosis in rural Ugandan children.
OBJECTIVE
Describe the oral health related quality of life among a group of children in rural Uganda and compare impacts on oral health related quality of life associated with dental caries and fluorosis.


METHODS
Cross-sectional clinical and questionnaire analytical study.


METHODS
Proportional sample of 174 12 year olds attending primary schools in a rural sub-county of Uganda.


METHODS
Clinical assessments using WHO basic methods and the Thylstrup and Fejerskov index of Fluorosis (TFI). Child Oral Health Related Quality of Life data collected with self-administered child perception questionnaire (CPQ11-14).


RESULTS
Two thirds of children reported a dental impact 'often' or 'everyday'. The mean number of impacts per child at this threshold was 2.6 and the mean total CPQ11-14 score was 25.8 (sd 21.1). Mean DMFT was 0.68. No children had fillings. Forty-one children had dental fluorosis with 10 having scores greater than 2. CPQ11-14 showed acceptable criterion validity and reliability. The number of sites with gingivitis or the presence of calculus or trauma were not associated with summary measures of CPQ11-14 whereas having any dental caries or treatment experience was associated with higher total scores and more impacts. Socially noticeable fluorosis (TFI >2) was associated with more impacts but not with higher total scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite low levels of oral disease these children experience appreciable impacts on oral health related quality of life. The greatest burden was associated with dental caries and to a lesser extent, fluorosis.
Robinson
Peter G
PG
School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, UK. Peter.G.Robinson@sheffield.ac.uk
Nalweyiso
Nora
N
Busingye
June
J
Whitworth
Jimmy
J
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000523:psychology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012423:Rural Health; D014098:Toothache / Q000523:psychology; D014454:Uganda