title: Oral health of visually impaired schoolchildren in Khartoum State, Sudan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although oral health care is a vital component of overall health, it remains one of the greatest unattended needs among the disabled. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (Child-OIDP in 11-13-year-old) of the visually challenged school attendants in Khartoum State, the Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A school-based survey was conducted in Al-Nour institute [boys (66.3%), boarders (35.9%), and children with partial visual impairment (PVI) (44.6%)]. Two calibrated dentists examined the participants (n=79) using DMFT/dmft, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), dental care index, and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) index. Oral health related quality of life (C-OIDP) was administered to 82 schoolchildren.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caries experience was 46.8%. Mean DMFT (age≥12, n=33) was 0.4 ± 0.7 (SiC 1.6), mean dmft (age<12, n=46) was 1.9 ±2.8 (SiC 3.4), mean OHIS 1.3 ± 0.9. Care Index was zero. One fifth of the children suffered TDI (19%). Almost one third (29%) of the 11-13 year old children reported an oral impact on their daily performances. A quarter of the schoolchildren (25.3%) required an urgent treatment need. Analysis showed that children with partial visual impairment (PVI) were 6.3 times (adjusted) more likely to be diagnosed with caries compared to children with complete visual impairment (CVI), and children with caries experience were 1.3 times (unadjusted) more likely to report an oral health related impact on quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visually impaired schoolchildren are burdened with oral health problems, especially caries. Furthermore, the 11-13 year olds' burden with caries showed a significant impact on their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, & Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, The Sudan.
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagelsir
authors.forename: Ahmed Eltigani
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Khogli
authors.forename: Nazik Mostafa
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Nurelhuda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*