[Utilization of oral health care for Down syndrome patients].
OBJECTIVE
From a perspective of comprehensive care, the purpose of the study was to evaluate factors associated to dental care provided to Down syndrome children and adolescents.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out including 112 pairs of mothers/Down syndrome children aged between 3 and 18 years who attended a public hospital genetics clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil, in 2006. Dental care was not provided at the clinic. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to the mothers and oral examinations of their children. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis. The dependent variable was "dental care of the Down syndrome child or adolescent" and the independent variables included demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics.


RESULTS
Most children (79.5%) had had at least one dental visit (90% CI: 72.3; 87.8). Dental experience of the children was associated to the following variables: mothers who reported being advised by their children's health provider to take them to the dentist's (OR=6.1 [2.5; 15.1]); children with prior history of surgery (OR=2.5 [0.9; 7.1]); and age between 12 and 18 years (OR=13.1 [2.0; 86.9]).


CONCLUSIONS
Dental care provided to Down syndrome children and adolescents was associated to advice given by their health providers, a part of comprehensive care.
Oliveira
Ana Cristina
AC
Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. anacboliveira@yahoo.com.br
Czeresnia
Dina
D
Paiva
Saul Martins
SM
Campos
Mônica Rodrigues
MR
Ferreira
Efigênia Ferreira
EF
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004314:Down Syndrome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D012017:Referral and Consultation