Family structure is associated with oral pain in 12-year-old Greek schoolchildren.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, associated correlates and impact of oral pain in 12-year-old schoolchildren in Stayroypoli, Greece.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of all schoolchildren attending the last year of government primary schools using self-administered questionnaires. Approval was granted by the Greek Ministry of Education and Religion. Cooperation was obtained from the schools. Children whose parents did not refuse their participation were invited to complete a questionnaire. Oral pain prevalence was estimated and association with sociodemographic/economic factors tested. Associations between pain experience and impact on daily activities were examined.


RESULTS
Of the 296 children registered, 225 (76.0%) were present on the days data were collected. Usable questionnaires were completed by 187 children (83.1%). Oral pain in the previous 4 weeks, reported by 70 (37.4%), was more likely to affect children living with one parent/other people (OR 3.0, 95% CI = 1.2-7.4, P = 0.013) and those who brushed less than twice a day (OR 2.8, 1.5-5.2, P = 0.001). Impact on daily activities was reported by 64 children (91.4%). The most commonly stated impacts were eating (40.0%), cleaning teeth (25.7%) and sleeping (18.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral pain prevalence was high in 12-year-old schoolchildren in Stayroypoli, is associated with family structure, and impacts substantially on daily activities.
Pau
Allan
A
Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London. a.k.pau@qmul.ac.uk
Baxevanos
Konstantinos Georgios
KG
Croucher
Ray
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004651:Employment; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D020954:Single-Parent Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data