title: Oral health status and its impact on the quality of life of children and adolescents living with HIV-1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral health problems can generate considerable negative effects on the quality of life of individuals living with HIV. The aim of this study was investigate the oral health status and its impact on the quality of life of 1 to 18 years-old living with HIV-1 under follow-up at referral centers in Southern Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study involving individuals under follow-up (n = 36) was carried out. The individuals living with HIV-1 and their guardians underwent individual interviews using validated questionnaires for assessing oral health-related quality of life according to age group. Clinical oral examinations were performed to establish oral health status, in terms of caries and treatment need, HIV-1-related gingival as well as stomatological changes. Medical records were reviewed searching for clinical history of the infection and the presence of HIV-1-related diseases. Association studies between frequent/very frequent oral health-related impact on quality of life and independent variables were performed using Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of frequent/very frequent oral health-related impact on quality of life was 69.0%. The prevalence of caries was 75.9%. Gingival changes were present in 20.7% of the individuals. Dental treatment was needed in 72.4% of the patients. HIV-1-related disease was present in 55.2%. The variables significantly associated with the prevalence of frequent/very frequent impact on oral health-related quality of life were dental treatment need (p = 0.037) and being more than 12 years of age (p = 0.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals living with HIV-1 with need for dental treatment and those over 12-years of age reported a statistically higher frequency of frequent/very frequent oral health-related impact on quality of life.
authors: Natália Spillere
authors: NS
authors: Rovaris
authors: Dayani
authors: D
authors: Galato
authors: Fabiana
authors: F
authors: Schuelter-Trevisol
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: da Silva
authors: Leandro da Silva
authors: Lda S
authors: Linhar
authors: Daniela Alba
authors: DA
authors: Nickel
authors: Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, 88704-900 Tubarão, SC, Brazil. jefferson.traebert@unisul.br.
authors: Jefferson
authors: J
authors: Traebert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires