title: Oral health-related quality of life of paediatric patients with AIDS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) exhibit impaired dental status, which can affect their quality of life. This study assessed the oral health-related quality of life of these patients and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The "Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14", rating overall and domain-specific (oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well being, and social well being) oral health-related quality of life (OHR-QoL) was completed by 88 children with AIDS assisted in the Child Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Parents or guardians provided behavioural and socio-demographic information. The clinical status was provided by hospital records. OHR-QoL covariates were assessed by Poisson regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most affected OHR-QoL subscale concerned oral symptoms, whose rate was 23.9%. The direct answer for oral health and well being made up a rate of 47.7%. Brushing the teeth less than two times a day and viral load exceeding 10,000 HIV-RNA copies per millilitre of plasma were directly associated (p < 0.05) with a poorer oral health-related quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with more severe AIDS manifestations complained of poorer status of oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional and social well being related to their oral health. Recognizing the factors that are associated with poorer OHR-QoL in children with AIDS may contribute to the planning of dental services for this population.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Massarente
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domaneschi
authors.forename: Heloísa H S
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Samantha B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goursand
authors.forename: José L F
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class; D014099:Toothbrushing; D019562:Viral Load