Aurelia Spinei
Nicolae Testemiţanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Moldova
Title: Prevalence of oral impacts on daily performance among children in Moldova
Biography
Biography: Aurelia Spinei
Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of oral health impact on quality of life in children in the Republic
of Moldova.
Methods: The sample included 619 children aged 12-15, who were clinically examined within the cross-sectional study: 297 children
(48%) from urban areas and 322 (52%) from the countryside. Clinical data were collected according to WHO criteria and using the
oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) questionnaire. The written consent of children’s parents was taken for the study. SPSS
vs.16.0 was used for descriptive and inferential analysis.
Results: The prevalence of oral impacts on daily performances ranged between children in rural and urban areas (47.7-57.6%). The
highest prevalence was recorded in children from rural areas (91 children-57.6%). Eating difficulty was a common impact in all
groups of children, varying from 100 children (33.7%) in urban areas up to 124 children (38.5%) in rural areas (p<0.001). The main
oral causes having an impact on daily life were: Dental caries in 312 children (50.4%) and dental pain in 228 (36.8%) children. The
impact of extracted teeth on social contacts and aesthetic function was found in 66 children (20.5%) in rural areas.
Conclusions: The prevalence of adverse effects of oral health on children’s daily life was moderate, the severity of effects being
reduced. The main causes of these effects were dental caries, toothache and tooth extraction. Oral health influenced the life quality of
children and had some effects on food consumption, oral cleanliness, emotional stability and aesthetic function.