Abstract
BackgroundLisu is an ethnic minority group and most of them are living in Yunnan, China. This study investigated the oral health status among 12-year-old Lisu children in Yunnan.MethodThis survey employed a multistage sampling method to recruit 12-year-old Lisu children. Two calibrated dentists performed the oral examinations in the primary schools. They examined dental caries, gingival bleeding and dental fluorosis using the diagnosis criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to the children to collect their sociodemographic background information and oral health-related behaviours. A chi-square test, the Mann–Whitney U test, zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThis survey invited 512 children, and 482 children (48% boys) participated in the study (response rate: 94%). Their caries prevalence was 35% and their caries experience in mean (SD) DMFT scores was 0.63 (0.10). The mean (SD) DT score was 0.60 (1.10), consisting 95% of the mean DMFT scores. No dental fluorosis was observed; whereas 426 children (88%) had gingival bleeding. Results of ZINB model indicated sex and sugary-snacking habits were related to the dental caries experience (p < 0.05). The gingival-bleeding prevalence was associated with the mother’s education level, the child’s monthly-pocket money and daily toothbrushing frequency (p < 0.05).ConclusionDental caries and gingival bleeding were prevalent among 12-year-old Lisu children in the Yunnan province in China, and most of the decayed teeth were unrestored. Dental fluorosis was not observed in the children.
Highlights
Lisu is an ethnic minority group and most of them are living in Yunnan, China
Results of zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model indicated sex and sugary-snacking habits were related to the dental caries experience (p < 0.05)
Dental caries and gingival bleeding were prevalent among 12-year-old Lisu children in the Yunnan province in China, and most of the decayed teeth were unrestored
Summary
Lisu is an ethnic minority group and most of them are living in Yunnan, China. The other 55 non-Han. The Lisu people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group living in Myanmar, southwest China, Thailand and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Lisu people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group living in Myanmar, southwest China, Thailand and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh According to the fifth census, 96% of the Lisu ethnic minority in China lived in Yunnan, mainly in the mountainous areas along the border of Myanmar [7]. In 2018, the disposable income per capita of Lisu people was reported to be 6476 Chinese yuen (~ US$ 913) [8], an amount much lower than that of the national average (~ US$ 4165) [9]
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