title: Oral health status of rural-urban migrant children in South China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In China, there is a massive rural-urban migration and the children of migrants are often unregistered residents (a 'floating population').
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study aimed to profile the oral health of migrant children in South China's principal city of migration and identify its socio-demographic/behavioural determinants.
  
  
  METHODS
  An epidemiological survey was conducted in an area of Guangzhou among 5-year-old migrant children (n = 138) who received oral examinations according to the World Health Organization criteria. Parents' oral health knowledge/attitude, child practices, and impact of children's oral health on their quality-of-life (QoL) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The caries rate and mean (SD) dmft were 86% and 5.17 (4.16), respectively, higher than those national statistics for both rural and urban areas (P < 0.05). Oral hygiene was satisfactory (DI-S < 1.0) in 3% of children. Oral health impacts on QoL were considerable; 60% reported one or more impacts. 58% variance in 'dmft' was explained by 'non-local-born', 'low-educated parents', 'bedtime feeding', 'parental unawareness of fluoride's effect and importance of teeth', and 'poor oral hygiene' (all P < 0.05). 'Non-local-born' and 'dmft' indicated poor oral health-related QoL (both P < 0.05), accounting for 32% of variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral health is poor among rural-urban migrant children and requires effective interventions in targeted sub-groups.
authors: Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. gaoxl@hkucc.hku.hk
authors: Xiao-Li
authors: XL
authors: Gao
authors: Colman
authors: C
authors: McGrath
authors: Huan-Cai
authors: HC
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides