Top

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research

Dental pain, oral impacts and perceived need for dental treatment in Tanzanian school students: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Kijakazi O Mashoto, Anne N Åstrøm, Jamil David, Joyce R Masalu

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2009

Abstract

Background

Dental caries, dental pain and reported oral problems influence people's oral quality of life and thus their perceived need for dental care. So far there is scant information as to the psychosocial impacts of dental diseases and the perceived treatment need in child populations of sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives

Focusing on primary school students in Kilwa, Tanzania, a district deprived of dental services and with low fluoride concentration in drinking water, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of dental pain and oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP), and to describe the distribution of OIDP by socio-demographics, dental caries, dental pain and reported oral problems. The relationship of perceived need estimates with OIDP was also investigated.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008. A total of 1745 students (mean age 13.8 yr, sd = 1.67) completed an extensive personal interview and under-went clinical examination. The impacts on daily performances were assessed using a Kiswahili version of the Child-OIDP instrument and caries experience was recorded using WHO (1997) criteria.

Results

A total of 36.2% (41.3% urban and 31.4% rural, p < 0.001) reported at least one OIDP. The prevalence of dental caries was 17.4%, dental pain 36.4%, oral problems 54.1% and perceived need for dental treatment 46.8% in urban students. Corresponding estimates in rural students were 20.8%, 24.4%, 43.3% and 43.8%. Adjusted OR for reporting oral impacts if having dental pain ranged from 2.5 (95% CI 1.8–3.6) (problem smiling) to 4.7 (95% CI 3.4–6.5) (problem sleeping),- if having oral problems, from 1.9 (95% CI 1.3–2.6) (problem sleeping) to 3.8 (95% CI 2.7–5.2) (problem eating) and if having dental caries from 1.5 (95% CI 1.1–2.0) (problem eating) to 2.2 (95% CI 1.5–2.9) (problem sleeping). Students who perceived need for dental care were less likely to be females (OR = 0.8, 95% CI 0.6–0.9) and more likely to have impacts on eating (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.4–2.7) and tooth cleaning (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.6–2.5).

Conclusion

Substantial proportions of students suffered from untreated dental caries, oral impacts on daily performances and perceived need for dental care. Dental pain and reported oral problems varied systematically with OIDP across the eight impacts considered. Eating and tooth cleaning problems discriminated between subjects who perceived need for dental treatment and those who did not.

Available only for authorised users

Frisch MB, Clark MP, Rouse SV, Rudd MD, Paweleck JK, Greenstone A, Kopplin DA: Predictive and treatment validity of life satisfaction and the quality of life inventory. Assessment 2005, 12: 66–78. 10.1177/1073191104268006CrossRefPubMed

Bastos JL, Peres MA, Peres KG, Arauji CLP, Menezes AMB: Toothache prevalence and associated factors: a life course study from birth to age 12 yr. Eur J Oral Sci 2008, 116: 458–66. 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2008.00566.xCrossRefPubMed

Pau A, Khan SS, Babar MG, Croucher R: Dental pain and care seeking in 11–14 yr old adolescents in a low income country. Eur J Oral Sci 2008, 116: 451–7. 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2008.00563.xCrossRefPubMed

Jokovic A, Locker D, Stephens M, Kenny D, Tompson B, Guyatt G: Validity and reliability of a questionnaire for measuring child oral health related quality of life. J Dent Res 2002, 81: 459–63. 10.1177/154405910208100705CrossRefPubMed

Gherunpong S, Tsakos G, Sheiham A: Developing and evaluating an oral health related quality of life index for children, the Child OIDP. Community Dent Health 2004, 21: 161–69.PubMed

Tubert-Jeanin S, Pegon-Machat E, Gremeau-Richard C, M-M L, Tsakos G: Validation of the French version of the Child OIDP index. Eur J Oral Sci 2005, 113: 355–62. 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2005.00230.xCrossRef

Yusuf H, Gherunpong S, Sheiham A, Tsakos G: Validation of an English version of the Child-OIDP index, an oral health related quality of life measure for children. Health Quality of Life Outcomes 2006, 4: 38. 10.1186/1477-7525-4-38CrossRefPubMed

Mtaya M, Astrom AN, Tsakos G: Applicability of an abbreviated version of the Child OIDP inventory among primary schoolchildren in Tanzania. Health Quality of Life Outcomes 2007, 5: 40. 10.1186/1477-7525-5-40CrossRefPubMed

Slade GD: Epidemiology of dental pain and dental caries among children and adolescents. Community Dent Health 2001, 18: 219–27.PubMed

10.

Kikwilu EN, Mandari GJ: Dental caries and periodontal conditions among primary schoolchildren in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. East Afr Med J 2001, 78: 152–6.PubMed

11.

Åstrøm AN, Kida IA: Perceived dental treatment need among older Tanzanian adults- a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2007, 7: 9. 10.1186/1472-6831-7-9CrossRefPubMed

12.

van Palenstein Helderman WH, Nathoo ZA: Dental treatment demands among patients in Tanzania. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1990, 18: 85–87. 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1990.tb00024.xCrossRefPubMed

13.

Heft MW, Gilbert GH, Shelton BJ, Duncan RP: Relationship of dental status, socio-demographic status and oral symptoms to perceived need for dental care. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2003, 31: 351–60. 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2003.00014.xCrossRefPubMed

14.

Locker D: Concepts of oral health, disease and the quality of life In: Slade G, ed. Measuring oral health and quality of life. In Dental Ecology. Chapell Hill: University of North Carolina; 1997:11–23.

15.

Shepherd MA, Nadanovsky P, Sheiham A: The prevalence and impact of dental pain in 8-year-old school children in Harrow, England. Br Dent J 1999, 187: 38–41. 10.1038/sj.bdj.4800197aPubMed

16.

Ratnayake N, Ekanayake L: Prevalence and impact of oral painin 8-year-old children in Sri Lanka. Int J Paediatric Dent 2005, 15: 105–112. 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2005.00602.xCrossRef

17.

Naidoo S, Chikte UM, Sheiham A: Prevalence and impact of dental pain in 8–10 year olds in the Western Cape. SADJ 2001, 56: 521–23.PubMed

18.

Okullo I, Åstrøm AN, Haugejorden O: Social inequalities in oral health and in use of oral health care services among adolescents in Uganda. Int J Paediatric Dent 2004, 14: 326–35. 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2004.00568.xCrossRef

19.

Kiwanuka SN, Åstrøm AN: Self reported dental pain and associated factors in Uganda schoolchildren. Norsk Epidemiologi 2005, 15: 175–82.

20.

Jiang H, Petersen PE, Peng B, Tai B, Bian Z: Self assessed dental health, oral health practices, and general health behaviours in Chinese urban adolescents. Acta Odontol Scand 2005, 63: 343–52. 10.1080/00016350500216982CrossRefPubMed

21.

Honkala E, Honkala S, Rimpala A, Rimpala : The trend and risk factors of perceived toothache among Finnish adolescents from 1977 to 1997. J Dent Res 2001, 80: 1823–7. 10.1177/00220345010800091001CrossRefPubMed

22.

Population and Housing Census 2002. [http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/lindi.htm]

23.

Lwanga SK, Lemeshow S: Sample size determination in health studies: A practical mannual. Geneva, World Health Organization; 1991.

24.

Schellenberg JA, Victora C, Mushi A, de Savigny D, Schellenberg D, Mshinda H, Bryce J: Inequities among the very poor: Health care for children in rural southern Tanzania. Lancet 2003, 361: 561–66. 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12515-9CrossRefPubMed

25.

World Health Organization: Oral health surveys: Basic Methods. Geneva 1997.

26.

Streiner DL, Norman GR: Health measurement scales. Second edition. Oxford Medical Publication; 1998.

27.

Pau A, Baxevanos KG, Croucher R: Family structure is associated with oral pain in 12 year old Greek schoolchildren. Int J Paediatric Dent 2007, 17: 345–51. 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2007.00842.xCrossRef

28.

Nuttall NM, Steele JG, Evans D, Chadwick B, Morris AJ, Hill K: The reported impact of oral condition on children in the United Kingdom 2003. Br Dent J 2006, 200: 551–55. 10.1038/sj.bdj.4813586CrossRefPubMed

29.

Goes PS, Watt R, Hardy RG, Sheiham A: The prevalence and severity of dental pain in 14–15 year old Brazilian schoolchildren. Community Dent Health 2007, 24: 217–24.PubMed

30.

Moshiro C, Heuch I, Åstrøm AN, Setel P, Kvåle G: Effect of recall on estimation of non-fatal injury rates: A community based study in Tanzania. Injury Prevention 2005, 11: 48–52. 10.1136/ip.2004.005645CrossRefPubMed

31.

Locker D: Oral health and quality of life. Oral Health Prev Dent 2004,2(Suppl 1):247–53.PubMed

32.

Locker D: Disparities in oral health related quality of life in a population of Canadian children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2007, 35: 348–56. 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2006.00323.xCrossRefPubMed

33.

Gherunpong S, Tsakos G, Sheiham A: The prevalence and severity of oral impacts on daily performances in Thai primary schoolchildren. Health Quality of Life Outcomes 2004, 2: 57. 10.1186/1477-7525-2-57CrossRefPubMed

34.

Kida IA, Astrøm AN, Strand GV, Masalu JR, Tsakos G: Psychometric properties and the prevalence, intensity and causes of oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) in a population of older Tanzanians. Health Quality of Life Outcomes 2006, 5: 56. 10.1186/1477-7525-4-56CrossRef

35.

Masalu JR, Astrøm AN: Applicability of an abbreviated version of the oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) scale for use among Tanzanian students. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2003, 31: 7–14. 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2003.00011.xCrossRefPubMed

36.

Astrøm AN, Okullo I: Validity and reliability of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) frequency scale: A cross-sectional study of adolescents in Uganda. BMC Oral health 2003, 3: 5. 10.1186/1472-6831-3-5CrossRefPubMed

37.

Wong MCM, McMillan AS, Zeng J, lam CLK: The consequences of orofacial pain symptoms: a population based study in Hong Kong. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2008, 36: 417–24. 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2007.00422.xCrossRefPubMed

38.

Åstrøm AN, Kida IA: Perceived dental treatment need among older Tanzanian adults- A cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2007, 7: 9. 10.1186/1472-6831-7-9CrossRefPubMed

39.

Jokovic A, Locker D: Dissatisfaction with oral health status in an older adult population. J Public Health Dent 1997, 57: 40–7. 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1997.tb02471.xCrossRefPubMed

40.

Hastie BA, Riley JL 3rd, Fillingim RB: Ethnic differences in pain coping: Factor structure of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire and Coping Strategies Questionnaire-Revised. J Pain 2004, 5: 304–16. 10.1016/j.jpain.2004.05.004CrossRefPubMed

Title: Dental pain, oral impacts and perceived need for dental treatment in Tanzanian school students: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kijakazi O Mashoto
Anne N Åstrøm
Jamil David
Joyce R Masalu
Publication date: 01-12-2009
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-7-73

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Dental pain, oral impacts and perceived need for dental treatment in Tanzanian school students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2009

Validation of an abbreviated Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9) among patients on antihypertensive medications

Feasibility and acceptance of electronic quality of life assessment in general practice: an implementation study

Construction and validation of a short-form Quality-Of-Life Scale for Chinese Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Rasch analysis of the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29)

Psychological wellbeing, physical impairments and rural aging in a developing country setting

Periodontal status, tooth loss and self-reported periodontal problems effects on oral impacts on daily performances, OIDP, in pregnant women in Uganda: a cross-sectional study