Sense of coherence of caregivers and perception of oral health in children with intellectual disabilities
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the Sense of Coherence (SOC) of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities and its impact on their perception of their children’s oral health. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 30 caregivers of children aged 6–14 years diagnosed with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, hydrocephalus, or intellectual disability, treated at a specialized center in Teresina, Brazil. Structured interviews and the SOC-13 scale (13–65 points) were applied, along with a clinical examination of the children for caries experience (DMFT and deft indices). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression (p<0.05). Results: Mean child age was 10.6±4.1 years; most were boys (63.6%). Caregivers were mainly mothers (90%), with family income of 1–2 minimum wages (53.3%). Mean SOC was 48±6.8, high in 53.3%, and associated with family income (p=0.024). No association was found between SOC and caries experience. Conclusion: Caregivers showed high SOC, influenced by income but not by children’s caries experience
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