title: Socio-demographic factors and oral health conditions in the elderly: a population-based study.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between oral health conditions and socio-demographic factors in an elderly population from Macaíba/RN (Brazil). A questionnaire was used to characterize the socio-demographic profiles and a clinical examination was performed to assess oral health conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, use of dental prosthesis, need for dental prosthesis and soft tissue injuries. The technique of random sampling by conglomerates was used, taken from randomly selected census drafts, with a total sample of 441 individuals. The prevalence of edentulism, bleeding and dental calculus was 50.8%, 27.2% and 32%, respectively, excluding all sextants in 59% of the elderly. Data analysis was conducted using the chi-squared test with the level of significance set at 5%. Prior to association tests, the dependant variables were submitted to principal component analysis. Four factors were extracted to represent the oral health conditions of elderly individuals. A statistically significant association was found between the following variables: gender and the presence of a caregiver with gum disease; age, residence area, presence of a caregiver and household density with need for dental prosthesis; and household density with soft tissue injuries. Therefore, precarious oral health conditions were found among the elderly and associations were found between these conditions and the socio-demographic factors, particularly gender, age and residence area. The results obtained demonstrated the need for improved oral health conditions in the elderly. The study of these conditions, allied to socio-demographic factors, is important in terms of both dental care and public policy planning related to these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Department of Dentistry, Postgraduate Public Health Program (PPGSCol-UFRN), Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 1787, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN 59056-000, Brazil. tamires.carneiro@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tamires Carneiro
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Diviane Alves
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Yan Nogueira
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Leite de Freitas
authors.forename: Romerito Lins
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Carla Patrícia de Castro
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pegado
authors.forename: Kenio Costa
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: de Lima
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004245:DMF Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Cross-sectional studies; Elderly; Oral health and socio-demographic conditions; Poverty; Sampling studies