Can the school environment influence oral health-related behaviours? A multilevel analysis of the Brazilian National Adolescent School-Based Health Survey 2015

Association between bullying at school and tooth loss among 15-19-year-olds from southern Brazil

This study aimed to investigate the association between bullying at school and tooth loss in southern Brazilian adolescents. This population-based cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 15-19-year-old students attending high schools in Santa Maria, southern Brazil. Data on sociodemographic and behavioral variables were collected through questionnaires. Contextual data on bullying at school was provided by educational institutions (bullying episodes in the previous year: 'no,' 'sometimes,' or 'often'). Tooth loss was clinically assessed by the M component of the DMFT index, modeled as a discrete variable. Multilevel Poisson regression was used, and rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. The prevalence of tooth loss was 9.2% (95%CI = 7.5-10.8). Adolescents who attended the schools where bullying events often occurred had 0.39 (95%CI = 0.33-0.45) missing teeth, on average, in contrast to an average of 0.14 (95%CI = 0.08-0.19) among those whose schools did not experience bullying in the previous year. After adjusting for important cofactors, the contextual variable of bullying at school remained significantly associated with the study outcome. Adolescents who attended schools where bullying frequently occurred were 2.49-fold more likely to have an additional missing tooth than those whose school did not experience bullying in the previous year (RR = 2.49, 95%CI = 1.37-4.51, p = 0.003). In conclusion, the frequent bullying episodes at school were associated with more permanent teeth lost due to caries in this population. Hence, improving the school environment may improve the oral health of adolescents.

Association of children's oral health and school environment on academic performance in 12-year-old schoolchildren of Quito, Ecuador

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate if children's oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were associated with school performance. Moreover, the study aimed to examine whether school environment factors influenced this association.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was based on a population-based sample of 998 12-year-old schoolchildren from 31 public schools in Quito, Ecuador. Trained and calibrated examiners conducted clinical exams for dental caries, dental trauma and malocclusion. Furthermore, children completed the Spanish version of the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ11-14 ), and their parents answered questions about socio-economic status. School coordinators provided information on the physical environment, promotion of health practices and the occurrence of negative episodes in the school. There were three outcomes: grades obtained in Spanish language and mathematics and the number of missed school days. Multilevel linear and Poisson regression models were conducted using a hierarchical approach to include the variables guided by a previously created direct acyclic graph.

RESULTS

Children with dental trauma and higher CPQ11-14 scores showed lower grades and school attendance. Schoolchildren from schools with episodes of vandalism had more school days missed.

CONCLUSION

The school performance of 12-year-old children is affected by dental trauma and by a worse OHRQoL, as well as a negative school environment. Therefore, supportive environments and promoting health measures in schools could overcome this worse academic performance in children with oral health problems.

Individual and Contextual Factors Associated with Adolescents' Self-Perceived Need for Treatment

The present study aimed to investigate associations between the self-perceived dental treatment need and clinical factors, familial characteristics, and school context in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 746 students aged 15 to 19 years in a medium-sized city in Brazil. Data collection involved the use of a sociodemographic questionnaire, an oral health questionnaire, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACES III) instrument. Clinical examinations were performed by two trained and calibrated examiners (Kappa > 0.80) using the Nyvad criteria. A robust logistic regression analysis for complex samples was performed using a multilevel approach (α = 5%). The individual factors associated with the self-perceived treatment need were dental pain (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.16), the loss of the first molars (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.15), and disengaged family cohesion (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01-1.31). In terms of context, attending a public school was associated with the self-perceived treatment need (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02-1.33). Thus, the individual factors of toothache, tooth loss, and a disengaged family, as well as the school context, exerted an influence on the self-perceived treatment need.

Implementação do Programa Saúde na Escola: relação com aspectos da saúde bucal dos estudantes

RESUMO O estudo objetivou investigar a associação entre a implementação do Programa Saúde na Escola (PSE) e aspectos relacionados com a saúde bucal de adolescentes escolares que frequentam escolas públicas no Brasil. Foi realizado estudo transversal exploratório utilizando dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde Escolar (PeNSE) 2015 em uma amostra de 81.154 estudantes de 13 a 15 anos frequentando escolas públicas das capitais, Distrito Federal e interior. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de questionários respondidos pelos alunos e responsáveis pelas escolas. Foi realizada análise bivariada de associação entre a variável ‘implementação das ações do PSE pela escola’ (Sim/Não) e aspectos relativos à saúde bucal dos estudantes. Em comparação com escolas sem implementação do PSE, as que haviam implementado o Programa apresentavam melhores indicadores de comportamento (consumo de alimentos com açúcar adicionado, cigarro e álcool); venda de alimentos saudáveis ou com açúcar adicionado; existência de grupo/comitê de saúde, ações do Programa Mais Educação e ações em conjunto com a Unidade Básica de Saúde (p<0,05). Concluiu-se que houve associação entre a implementação do PSE e aspectos mais favoráveis relacionados com a saúde bucal, referentes a alimentação, uso de cigarro e álcool entre os escolares, e ações de saúde e educação nas escolas.

Implementation of the School Health Program: relationship with aspects of students’ oral health

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the association between the School Health Program (PSE) implementation and aspects related to the oral health of adolescent students attending public schools in Brazil. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2015 National School Health Survey (PeNSE) in a sample of 81,154 students aged 13 to 15 in the capitals, Federal District, and inland cities. Data were retrieved from questionnaires answered by students and those responsible for the schools. We performed a bivariate analysis of the association between the variable ‘implementation of PSE actions by the school’ (Yes/No) and aspects related to the students’ oral health. Compared to schools without PSE implementation, those that had implemented the Program had better behavioral indicators (consumption of sugar-added foods, cigarettes, and alcohol); selling healthy or sugar-added foods; availability of a health group/committee, and actions of the More Education Program and with Primary Health Care Units (p<0.05). We concluded that there was an association between the implementation of the PSE and more favorable aspects related to oral health regarding the students’ diet, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption, and school health and education actions.

Socioeconomic Inequalities and Toothbrushing Frequency among Schoolchildren Aged 6 to 12 Years in a Multi-Site Study of Mexican Cities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Periodic toothbrushing is the most common, effective, and reliable way to mechanically remove biofilm from oral tissues. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between toothbrushing frequency and socioeconomic position for schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years of age in four cities in Mexico. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 Mexican schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years of age from public schools in four Mexican cities. Questionnaires were administered to the parents/guardians of the schoolchildren to obtain the variables included in the study. The dependent variable was toothbrushing frequency, dichotomized as: 0 = less than twice a day and 1 = at least twice a day. The analysis was performed in Stata. The average age of the schoolchildren was 8.9 ± 1.9 years; 50.4% were female. The prevalence of toothbrushing was 52.8% (at least twice a day) (95% CI = 48.4−57.1). In the multivariate model, the variables associated (p < 0.05) with toothbrushing frequency were older age of the schoolchild (OR = 1.14); younger age of the mother (OR = 0.93); being a girl (OR = 1.70); being enrolled in Seguro Popular (OR = 0.69); being in a household that was owned (OR = 2.43); and being a schoolchild who lived in a home that owned a car (OR = 1.31). The prevalence of toothbrushing at least twice a day was just over 50% in these Mexican children. We found demographic and socioeconomic variables to be associated with toothbrushing. Based on socioeconomic variables that were associated with toothbrushing frequency—such as health insurance, home ownership and the household owning a car—the results of the present study confirm the existence of health inequalities in toothbrushing frequency.