title: Dental Caries Status, Socio-Economic, Behavioral and Biological Variables among 12-Year-Old Palestinian School Children.
abstract: There are currently inadequate data regarding the prevalence of dental caries and its associated variables, among Palestinian children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the current prevalence of dental caries and related variables, among Palestinian children in East Jerusalem.
  
  
  METHODS
  A stratified sample of 286 East Jerusalem Palestinian children was selected, employing randomly chosen sixth grade clusters from three pre-selected socio-economic school groups. Dental caries was recorded according to WHO recommendations. Salivary flow, pH, buffer capacity and microbial parameters, were recorded according to previously employed methodologies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean level of caries experience, by DMFT, was 1.98 ± 2.05. This level was higher than those found among Israeli children, but lower than several other Middle Eastern countries. In uni-variate analysis, significant associations were revealed between caries and school categories, which indicated lower, middle and higher socio-economic position(SEP), mothers' employment, home densities, dental visits, tooth brushing, Streptococci mutans (SM), Lactobacilli (LB), and saliva pH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to a linear logistic regression model, children learning in lower SEP schools, with higher SM levels and more acidic saliva, had a higher chance of experiencing dental caries. These findings should be considered in the planning of services and dental health care programs for Palestinian children.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Sgan-Cohen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bajali
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eskander
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002021:Buffers; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012923:Social Class; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D009067:Mouthwashes
keywords: dental caries; health behavior; socio-economic position