Caries, gender and socio-economic change in the Xavante Indians from Central Brazil.
BACKGROUND
The oral health conditions of indigenous peoples in Amazonia are closely associated with ecological and dietary changes related to interaction with non-Indians.


OBJECTIVE
The study investigated the incidence of caries in an indigenous community from Central Brazil focusing on gender differences.


METHODS
The research was conducted among the Xavante Indians and was based on longitudinal data collected in two surveys (1999 and 2004). The study included 128 individuals, 63 (49.2%) males and 65 (50.8%) females, divided in four age brackets (6-12, 13-19, 20-34, 35-60 years of age). The DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) index and incidences (difference between 1999 and 2004) were calculated for each individual. The proportion of incidence was also calculated. Differences in caries risk between gender and age brackets were compared by parametric and non-parametric tests.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences in relation to caries incidence between age brackets and gender. The greatest incidence was observed in the 20-34 age bracket, which presented 3.30 new decayed teeth, twice the risk of the 6-12 age bracket (p<0.01), chosen as reference. While females in most age groups did not show higher risk for caries when compared to males, there was a 4.04-fold risk in the 20-34 age bracket (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that factors related to the social functions of each sex (gender issues) and differential access to information, health services, and education may help to understand the differences observed in the incidence of caries.
Arantes
Rui
R
Escola Nacional de Saude PublicaFundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Santos
Ricardo Ventura
RV
Frazao
Paulo
P
Coimbra
Carlos E A
CE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007199:Indians, South American; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors