Abstract
Objective: To compare the oral health condition of children and adolescents victims of maltreatment housed in foster care with that of children and adolescents that have not been victims of maltreatment. Material and Methods: This is a case-control study with children and adolescents that have not been victims of maltreatment. In Group 1, the population was composed of 56 children victims of abuse housed in foster care. Group 2 was composed of an equal number of children and adolescents attending pediatric dentistry clinic at UFPI. Both groups were matched for sex and age. Data collection was divided into two phases: questionnaire application to children’s parents / guardians and clinical examination of the oral cavity. The questionnaire was composed of questions about socioeconomic variables, reasons for admission in the foster care and oral health-related habits. To assess the oral health condition, epidemiological indexes dmft, DMFT and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) were determined and soft tissues were inspected to evaluate possible maltreatment sequelae. Results: Neglect was reported as the major cause of entry into the foster care (84%). There were no statistically significant differences between the mean dmft (p=0.240), DMFT (p=0.862) and GBI (p=0.275) values between groups evaluated. No sequelae or lesions characteristic of physical aggression were found; however, all individuals have been institutionalized for more than four months. Conclusion: Child and adolescents victims of maltreatment showed oral health condition similar to that of individuals that have not been victims of maltreatment.
Highlights
Child abuse includes neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse against children by older people and results in body lesions or significant emotional damage, interfering with the growth and development process [1,2,3].Children victims of physical abuse may show lesions caused by physical injury [4,5,6,7,8]
Objective: To compare the oral health condition of children and adolescents victims of maltreatment housed in foster care with that of children and adolescents that have not been victims of maltreatment
Informed Consent Forms (ICF) of children housed in foster care were signed by the legal representative of the institution and children in the control group by parents or guardians, according to the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and regulations governing research on human beings, set out in resolution 196/96 of the National Health Council
Summary
Physical, emotional or sexual abuse against children by older people and results in body lesions or significant emotional damage, interfering with the growth and development process [1,2,3].Children victims of physical abuse may show lesions caused by physical injury [4,5,6,7,8]. Physical, emotional or sexual abuse against children by older people and results in body lesions or significant emotional damage, interfering with the growth and development process [1,2,3]. Sexual abuse involves any kind of sexual exploitation of children and neglect refers to damage or risks from the lack of basic and essential care [7]. Child dental neglect is characterized by lack of care of parents and / or guardians to seek dental care for children with apparent oral diseases or have been through painful situations. The diagnosis of dental neglect is difficult due to the multifactorial etiology of oral diseases, involving biological, socio-economic and cultural aspects associated with the shortage of public and specialized dental services [9,10,11]
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