Prevalência de cárie na infância e sua associação com fatores de risco em uma unidade de saúde de Palmas-TO: estudo de caso

Abstract

Dental caries is a disease that affects the world population, especially children, compromising their quality of life. Caries is considered a chronic, infectious disease whose etiology is complex and multifactorial. Despite studies showing a reduction in the prevalence of dental caries in the world, this is still considered a public health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of childhood caries severity in children up to nine years old with risk factors for the development of the disease. This research is a descriptive, analytical, transversal, quantitative study with children up to nine years old at the Professor Isabel Auler Family Health Unit, Palmas-TO. Data collection resulted in a sample of 47 children. Three data collection instruments were adopted: a form containing socioeconomic data, behavioral habits and access to services, an open interview with the parents/guardians of children classified as high risk and a form for classifying the children's risk. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS statistical program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), version 22.0. The research findings showed that low maternal education, family income below one minimum wage, older age of the child, previous history of caries and high consumption of foods and drinks rich in sugar were the risk factors with the greatest influence on the development of caries in women. kids. Therefore, the need for a longitudinal study is concluded in order to know the oral health profile of children in the capital, proposing strategies aimed at preventive and curative interventions aimed at pregnant women and children in early childhood with a focus on reducing the incidence of caries.