December 2009

Volume 26, Issue 4

The periodontal health of Nepalese schoolchildren

Authors: R. Yee J. David D. Lama
doi: 10.1922/CDH_2397Yee07

Abstract

Objectives: To report on the periodontal status of schoolchildren in urban and rural Nepal and to identify possible risk indicators of poor periodontal health. Design: Cross-sectional ‘pathfinder’ survey using the stratified cluster sampling technique included seven urban and nine rural sites representing the three geographic divisions and five political regions of Nepal. Second stage sampling involved the random selection of 25 schools (18 government and seven private). Subjects: Final study population consisted of three age groups: 5-6-years (n = 1025), 12-13-years (n = 1037) and 15-16-years (n = 1053). Outcome measures: Periodontal data was collected using CPI based on WHO methodology and criteria by trained examiners. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on oral health behavior and socio-economic status. Results: A gradual decline in the mean number of healthy sextants was noted with an increase in age among the schoolchildren. Males and females within a specific school and area showed no statistical significant difference when assessed for differences in score 0 (healthy periodontium) among all age groups except for 15-16-year-olds studying in government-urban schools. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that children 5 to 6 years of age studying in government urban (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.5, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.1-2.1) and government rural schools (Adj OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-4.1) were at higher risk of having periodontal conditions (CPI scores > 0) when compared to those in private urban schools. The probability of poorer periodontal status increased for 12 to 13 (Adjusted OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.9) and 15 to 16-year-old children (Adjusted OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.5) who studied in government rural schools. Conclusions: A steady increase in periodontal conditions was observed with increasing age. The main risk indicator for unhealthy periodontal status at 5-6 years was studying and residing in government rural and urban schools; while the indicator of unhealthy periodontal status for children 12 to 13 and 15 to 16 years of age was studying in rural government schools. Key words: CPI, Nepal, periodontal health.

Download

Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial - Beyond water fluoridation; the emergence of functional foods for oral health 194-195 Download
Book Review 196-196 Download
Sense of coherence associates with oral and general health behaviours 197-203 Download
Evaluation of the direct and diffusion methods for the determination of fluoride content in table salt 204-210 Download
Fluoride toothpaste utilization behaviour among preschool children in Perlis, Malaysia 211-215 Download
Rural Mexican immigrant parents’ interpretation of children’s dental symptoms and decisions to seek treatment 216-221 Download
Assessment of HIV/AIDS awareness among 500 patients referred to the Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry 222-226 Download
Professional charges not reimbursed to dentists in the US: evidence from Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996. 227-233 Download
Quality of life in patients with dental conditions: comparing patients’ and providers’ evaluation 234-238 Download
Understanding politics? Some lessons from Swedish dentistry. 239-243 Download
Factors influencing the need for dental care amongst the elderly in the Republic of Ireland 244-249 Download
The periodontal health of Nepalese schoolchildren 250-256 Download

Subscribe

Online (Single user only)
£150
Institution Online (IP address validation)
£250

Back issues may be obtained from the publisher

Consider recommending subscription to your institution's library

You can view Open Access papers without a subscription.