Abstract
ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE:To describe the prevalence of oral health impact on quality of life and its association with the dental condition and sociodemographic factors of homeless people.METHODS:The sample was composed of 116 adults, temporarily attended by a public institution in the municipality of Goiânia, state of Goiás. Interviews were carried out including the Oral Impact on Daily Performance instrument and sociodemographic aspects. Clinical examinations were done by a trained examiner considering criteria of the World Health Organization. We evaluated dental caries (DMFT index) and use or need to use some type of prosthesis. For the statistical analysis of data, we used Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests and Poisson regression with robust variance.RESULTS:Of the total respondents, 81.9% had at least one daily performance affected by dental problems in the six months prior the survey. The most prevalent dental conditions were: need for lower arch (76.7%) and upper arch prosthesis (69.0%); untreated caries (75.9%); and high DMFT (57.8%). In bivariate analysis, only the need for upper prosthesis variable was associated with the impact (high Oral Impact on Daily Performance). In the regression model, adjusted for time in the institution, age, and sex, this association remained significant (p = 0.015). Individuals without need for upper prosthesis had prevalence of high impact on daily performance 55% lower than those in need of this type of prosthesis (p = 0.018).CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of oral health impact on quality of life of homeless people was high and higher than that verified in the overall Brazilian population. The impact was associated with the need for upper prosthesis, regardless of sociodemographic characteristics of the individuals.
Highlights
Oral problems, dental caries and its consequences, have high prevalence in the population and are related to pain, suffering, mutilation and privations[1].Studies that assess the perception of individuals on their oral conditions are an important contribution to the understanding of the social impact of diseases and other health outcomes[2]
Only the need for upper prosthesis variable was associated with the impact
The prevalence of oral health impact on quality of life of homeless people was high and higher than that verified in the overall Brazilian population
Summary
Studies that assess the perception of individuals on their oral conditions are an important contribution to the understanding of the social impact of diseases and other health outcomes[2] They may be relevant to support public policies seeking to establish priorities and reduce inequities and the impact of outcomes on people’s quality of life. In this sense, several indicators aiming to integrate subjective measures into clinical data have been developed and validated[3]. In Brazil, there are no conclusive studies on the profile and the number of people living in the streets; it is a growing, heterogeneous, and fluctuating social group, with difficulties of access to healthcare services[4]. Strategies and actions aimed at improving healthcare initiatives for the population of homeless people have been proposed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in the last years[5,6]
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