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The association of socioeconomic status and dental caries experience in children in Dili, Timor-Leste
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 22:22 authored by Babo Soares, LF, Allen, P, Silvana BettiolSilvana Bettiol, Crocombe, LTimor-Leste is one of the poorest countries in the world. The aim of this article was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and dental caries experience in children living in Dili. Four out of 6 Dili subdistricts and 40 schools were randomly selected. Equal numbers of school children from 4 age groups (6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17 years) were invited to participate. Data were gathered via a questionnaire and an oral examination by dental practitioners. In bivariate analysis, decayed, missing, and filled teeth index for deciduous + permanent teeth (dmft) was higher in children from mid- to high-SES than low-SES schools (1.1, 2.2, P = 0.001). With age, having had a toothache and dental visiting in the past 12 months in the multivariable model, higher dmft was found in children from mid- to high- to low-SES schools (P < 0.001). The primary dental caries experience was greater among children from mid- to high- than low-SES schools, which may be explained by high sugar consumption.
History
Publication title
Asia-Pacific journal of public healthVolume
28Issue
7Pagination
620-628ISSN
1010-5395Department/School
Tasmanian School of MedicinePublisher
Science PressPlace of publication
ChinaRights statement
copyright 2016 APJPHRepository Status
- Restricted