Abstract
Aim: Verify association between socio-economicfactors and early childhood caries in the Northeastregion of Brazil.
Methodology: It was carried out a cross-sectional study with 358children from 6 to 71 months, from February 2008to January 2009. The dependent variable was dmftindex increased active white spot lesions; socioeconomiccharacteristics and care with the childrenwere the independent variable. It had been usedtechniques of descriptive statistics and adjustedanalysis through the Poisson's regression model forassociation with the socio-economic factors.
Results: The prevalence of the caries found was46.9%, being the age group from 37 to 71 monthsthe ones more affect. Approximately 44.0% of thechildren belong to families with an income lowerthan a minimum wage. Limitations on the accessto the health service (18.4%), low coverage (4.5%)and insufficient offer of preventive procedures(23.7%) accentuate the prevalence of caries. It wasobserved the association among the children's age(RP 1.61), caries as reason for dental visit (RP 1.83)and the no use of fluorinated dental cream (RP 18.3)with manifested caries and activity of caries.
Conclusion: Socio-economic factors anddisorganization of the public dental practice hadinfluenced the sprouting and the non-homogeneousdistribution of the caries, what must make this groupa target of social policy and health.
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Reis, W., Ribeiro, V., Cruz, M. et al. 1301 Early Childhood Caries and Socio-Economic Aspects in Children Under 6 Years Old in the Northeastern Region of Brazil. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 644 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01301
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01301