title: Caregivers' perception of oral health-related quality of life in a group of Nigerian children living with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the caregivers' perception of the effect of dental conditions on general well-being and family life of a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Nigerian children. A secondary aim was to investigate correlations between the children's sociodemographic and health-related variables and caregivers' global ratings of oral health and well-being. Study Design A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among parents/caregivers of 95 HIV-positive children receiving care at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The "Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire" which included measures of global ratings of oral health and well-being as well as effects of oral health on domains of oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and family well-being/parental distress was used. Assessment was based on the child's oral health within the preceding 3 months of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most affected subscale of the oral health-related quality of life was functional limitation followed by parental distress and then oral symptoms. Caregivers of older children were 2½ times more likely to view oral health as impacting their child's overall health (P = 0.034). Furthermore, caregivers of children who had not yet commenced antiretroviral therapy were 15% more likely to report oral symptoms (P = 0.024) and 11% were more likely to be distressed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data entry, validation, and analysis were done using SPSS version 17.0. Findings were considered to be statistically significant when 95% confidence intervals were not overlapping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to caregivers' perceptions, oral symptoms, functional limitations, and parental distress outweighed emotional well-being in impacting a child's oral health quality of life. Oral health programs to improve the knowledge of caregivers on the importance of oral health in HIV-positive children are necessary for improvement in overall quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Lagos, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Diaku-Akinwumi
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ola
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011203:Poverty; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult