• Users Online: 985
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
Home About us Editorial board Ahead of print Current issue Search Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 


 
 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2018  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 27-29

Oral health status of orphanage children, Tumkur: A survey report


Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Siddhartha Dental College and Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India

Date of Web Publication12-Nov-2018

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Darshana Bennadi
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sree Siddhartha Dental College and Hospital, Agalkote, Tumkur - 572 107, Karnataka
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijcd.ijcd_3_18

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Background and Aim: It has been well documented that the absence of family support influences the general and oral health of the children. Oral health symbolizes the general health and quality of life of an individual. The socioeconomic status and emotional factor show a direct impact on oral health status of children. Hence, survey was done with an objective to assess the baseline data regarding oral health problems among orphan children of Tumkur, Karnataka. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2- to 15-year-old children residing in five orphanages of Tumkur. Prior permission and consent were obtained from respective authorities, institution, and children. Self-administered questionnaire included demographic details, oral hygiene practice, duration of stay, decayed, missing, filled tooth (DMFT) and tooth fracture status, and gingival status. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 110 children in the age group of 2–15 years were examined. The findings of the examination highlighted untreated caries and no filled component which may be attributed to poverty, illiteracy, poor awareness, and lack of oral health services. Conclusion: Survey showed the need for oral health care services at orphanages of Tumkur. Spare time to serve our social responsibility (in the form of health services and psychological comfort) toward society either individually or along with institutions, nongovernmental organization, and public–private partnerships.

Keywords: Children, dental caries, orphanage


How to cite this article:
Bennadi D, Shabanam S, Abdul N N, Jacob A, Malini K, Bharateesh J V. Oral health status of orphanage children, Tumkur: A survey report. Int J Community Dent 2018;6:27-9

How to cite this URL:
Bennadi D, Shabanam S, Abdul N N, Jacob A, Malini K, Bharateesh J V. Oral health status of orphanage children, Tumkur: A survey report. Int J Community Dent [serial online] 2018 [cited 2024 Mar 28];6:27-9. Available from: https://www.ijcommdent.com/text.asp?2018/6/2/27/245218


  Introduction Top


Orphan is defined as a child under 18 years, who has lost his father, mother, or both. The pattern of orphanage living is different from family living as it provides physical security, food, and shelter but is devoid of psychological security. Family and parents nurture children to develop confidence and psychological comfort.[1] Often, these orphanage homes can only barely meet the needs of their inmates because of poor funding and the low caretaker to child ratio. These children form a population at risk with reference to abnormal psychosocial development due to lack of parental guidance, environmental deprivation, and emotional disturbances.[2]

Despite great improvements in the health of populations in several countries, this global problem still persists. Oral health issues are more prevalent among deprived groups of developing and developed countries.[3] Oral health is an integral component of good general health. Many children have inadequate oral and general health because of active and uncontrolled caries. Untreated oral diseases could lead to general health problems, pain, interference in eating, loss in school time, and also social unacceptability.[3],[4] Recognition of these problems is essential to provide optimum oral health for these deprived children. If the oral health of children develops unfavorably, they should be considered a risk group demanding special attention for planning of Dental Health Program.[5]

Hence, an attempt was made with an objective to assess the baseline data regarding oral health status among this population.


  Methods Top


A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the dental caries status of institutionalized orphan children residing in orphanages of Tumkur city. A list of the orphanages in Tumkur was acquired from the Department of District Women and Children Welfare Office, Tumkur. A total of five orphanage children were included in the study who were registered with the Department of Social Welfare which gave the permission and consent to conduct study at their institutions. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the research cell of dental college and hospital. The caretakers/wardens of orphanages offered written proxy consent for the children selected from orphanages. An intern was trained to assist the recording procedure. The survey was scheduled to spread over a period of 1 week in May 2017.

A total of 110 children aged between 2 and 15 years were included in the study. A specially designed questionnaire was answered by the orphans and their caretakers to assess their problems, duration of stay, existing oral hygiene practice, and attitude toward oral health. Intraoral examination was performed. Baseline data were collected on oral hygiene, fractured teeth, and presence or absence of gingivitis, status of decayed, missing and filled teeth among permanent (DMFT) and deciduous dentition (dmft).[6] The collected data were subjected for analysis.


  Results Top


This descriptive cross-sectional survey included a total of 110 children in the age group of 2–15 years. Mean duration of stay in orphanage was 4 years. [Graph 1] and [Graph 2] show gender- and age-wise distribution of children.



The prevalence of dental caries among the study population was 88 (n = 97, 4%). Regarding permanent teeth, mean DMFT was 1.34 ± 1.42 where a decayed component of DMFT was common among 51 children. In deciduous dentition, the mean dmft was 2.03 ± 1.61 where 46 children were affected with dental caries. The findings of the examination highlighted untreated caries and no filled component which may be attributed to poverty, illiteracy, poor awareness, and lack of oral health services.

Fracture of anterior teeth was found among 22% (n = 24) and gingivitis among 57% (n = 63) of the study population.

The highest number of children, i.e., 96% (n = 106), reported using toothpaste and toothbrush and brushing once daily. Regarding the visit to a dentist, 93% of children had never visited a dentist. In the studied population, 65.2% (n = 72) reported taking sweets occasionally and 34.8% (n = 38) of children specified taking sweets about one to three times per day.


  Discussion Top


Oral diseases were found to be more common among disadvantaged population because of constraints such as dental workforce, financial, and availability of health-care facilities.

Dental caries was one of the most common dental diseases among these children; similar findings were seen at Jammu,[1] Mysore,[7] Vadodara city,[8] Jaipur,[9] Andhra Pradesh,[10] Brazil,[11] and Queensland[12] orphanage children. This may be attributed to frequent in-between consumption of carbohydrate food products and lack of awareness toward oral hygiene practices.

Precise comparison cannot be justified due to their diverse culture, food pattern, geographic location, and other factors such as diet of children in orphanages in India which tends to be noncariogenic where the food provided covers the three basic meals in a day. The data on oral health behavior collected showed that most of the children were using toothbrush and toothpaste. Similar practices were seen in the previous studies[13],[14],[15],[16],[17] conducted among children of orphanages, streets, and ashrams.

Regarding the visit to a dentist, 93% of children had never visited a dentist. These findings are similar to the findings of national data for the state.[14] The reason can be limited resources as well as dental health personnel and the attitude of these children toward dental professionals. Furthermore, children might be satisfied with the status of their teeth and thus do not recognize the need for regular dental visits.[17]

Children are particularly sympathetic. Hence, earlier the habits are established, more enduring the impact will be. Furthermore, messages can be reinforced repeated. Family support plays an important role which can provide psychological and social support.

The data collected for habits and practices may have certain limitations. In addition, recall bias and social desirability bias could be considered with respect to the consumption of food items and frequency of toothbrush replacement. Our results cannot be generalized to the whole population of Indian children since the sample size is small.

The present descriptive survey showed the oral health status among orphanage children in Tumkur.

Recommendations

By following the status of oral health, we have to adopt prevention-oriented dental care by utilizing resources of the dental colleges, nongovernmental organization (NGO), and public–private partnership. We recommend implementing preventive and educational programs on oral health and sensitizing the children themselves with awareness toward oral hygiene. Caries prevention programs such as placing sealants and fluoride programs can be started.

Spare some time to serve our responsibility toward society either individually or along with institutions, NGO, and public–private partnership which are working to curb this problem through “From Hunger. to Harvest, From Abuse. to Allies and From Poverty. to Productivity.”

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Shah AF, Tangade P, Ravishankar TL, Tirth A, Pal S, Batra M, et al. Dental caries status of institutionalized orphan children from Jammu and Kashmir, India. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2016;9:364-71.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Park K, editor. Mental health. In: Park's Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine. Jabalpur: Banarasidas Bhanot Publishers; 2000. p. 632-8.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Petersen PE. The World Oral Health Report 2003: Continuous improvement of oral health in the 21st century – The approach of the WHO Global Oral Health Programme. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2003;31 Suppl 1:3-23.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Shanbhog R, Raju V, Nndlal B. Oral health knowledge in orphanage children. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2014;5:101-7.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
UNICEF Press Center. Orphans. Available from: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45279.html. [Last accessed on 2017 May 07].  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Peter S. Indices. Essentials of Public Health Dentistry. 5th ed. New Delhi: Arya Publication; 2015. p. 503-12.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Thetakala RK, Sunitha S, Chandrashekar BR, Sharma P, Krupa NC, Srilatha Y, et al. Periodontal and dentition status among orphans and children with parents in Mysore city, India: A comparative study. J Clin Diagn Res 2017;11:ZC115-8.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Gaur A, Sujan SG, Katna V. The oral health status of institutionalized children that is, juvenile home and orphanage home run by Gujarat state government, in Vadodara city with that of normal school children. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2014;32:231-7.  Back to cited text no. 8
[PUBMED]  [Full text]  
9.
Abhishek S, Anupama G, Sonia P, Vasim R, Sudhanshu S, Antim BS. Oral health status and treatment needs among orphanage children of Jaipur city. Sch J Appl Med Sci 2014;2:1776-80.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Muralidharan D, Fareed N, Shanthi M. Comprehensive dental health care program at an orphanage in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Indian J Dent Res 2012;23:171-5.  Back to cited text no. 10
  [Full text]  
11.
Sampaio FC, Freitas CH, Cabral MB, Machado AT. Dental caries and treatment needs among indigenous people of the Potiguara Indian reservation in Brazil. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2010;27:246-51.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Hopcraft M, Chowt W. Dental caries experience in aboriginal and Torres strait Islanders in the Northern Peninsula area, Queensland. Aust Dent J 2007;52:300-4.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Kahabuka FK, Mbawalla HS. Oral health knowledge and practices among Dar es Salaam institutionalized former street children aged 7-16 years. Int J Dent Hyg 2006;4:174-8.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Bali RK, Mathur VB, Talwar PP, Chanana HB. National Oral Health Survey and Fluoride Mapping 2002-2003 India. Dental Council of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Government of India); 2004.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Srinivas R, Srinivas P, Viswanath V, Suresh S, Devaki T, Narayana V. Oral health status of institutionalized street children aged 5-15 years in Guntur city, Andhra Pradesh, India. Int J Sci Technol Res 2012;1:19-23.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Santhosh K, Jyothi A, Prabu D, Suhas K. Oral hygiene and periodontal status among children and adolescents residing at an orphanage in Udaipur city, India. Niger Dent J 2008;16:82-6.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Singh A, Sequiera P, Acharya S, Bhat M. Oral health status of two 12-year-old socially disadvantaged groups in South India: A comparative study. Oral Health Prev Dent 2011;9:3-7.  Back to cited text no. 17
    




 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed8458    
    Printed842    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded212    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal


[TAG2]
[TAG3]
[TAG4]