Factors associated with prevalence of oral lesions and oral self-examination in young adults from a birth cohort in Southern Brazil.
The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of oral lesions and oral self-examination and the association between these variables and life course determinants in a young population. A representative sample (n = 720) of all births occurring in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, in 1982, was investigated and the outcomes were assessed in 2006. Data regarding exploratory variables was collected from other cohort waves. The prevalence of oral lesions was 23.3% (95%CI: 20.3-26.6). A total of 31% of individuals (95%CI: 27.6-34.4) reported never having performed oral self-examination. Multivariable analysis showed that low socio-economic status at birth, lack of oral hygiene instruction from a dentist up to the age of 15 years and smoking habits at the age of 22 year were associated with the presence of oral lesions. Performing oral self-examination was associated with high levels of maternal schooling at birth and having received oral hygiene orientation from a dentist up to the age of 15 years. Socioeconomic and behavioral factors are associated with both presence of oral mucosal lesions and the habit of performing self-examination.
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Brasil. marcosbrittocorrea@hotmail.com
Sandra Beatriz Chaves
SB
Tarquinio
Luisa Jardim Correa de
LJ
Oliveira
Marcos Britto
MB
Correa
Marco Aurélio
MA
Peres
Karen Glazer
KG
Peres
Denise Petrucci
DP
Gigante
Bernardo Lessa
BL
Horta
Flávio Fernando
FF
Demarco
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult