[The use of metaphors to express toothache: a study in the field of the anthropology of health]

Racial and regional inequalities of dental pain in adolescents: Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE), 2009 to 2015

The aim of the study is: (a) investigate the racial inequalities as one specific dimension that affects dental pain in Brazilian adolescents; and (b) investigate the regional variations of dental pain. This cross-sectional study used data from Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE), carried out with adolescents in 2009, 2012 and 2015. Dental pain was evaluated through the question: "Did you have dental pain in the last six months?". The main exposures were race and Brazilian regions, used to evaluate inequalities related to the outcome. Sex, age, school type and maternal education were used as covariables. The statistical significance of the trends in dental pain was tested using linear regression. The analysis was conducted in Stata 13.0 statistical package using the svy command. The standard prevalence of dental pain was 18.8%, 21.1% and 23.7%, showing an increasing trend over time (p < 0.001). We observed absolute inequalities in dental pain related to race and regions. A higher prevalence was found in non-white girls of public schools and in the Northern Region. The indexes of inequalities increased in the group of black girls, related to an increase of dental pain predominantly in girls whose mothers had lower educational level. It was observed that the prevalence of dental pain in Brazilian adolescents increased over time as well as its inequalities, which remained in marginalized populations and linked to Brazilian regions.

Dor de dentes e fatores associados entre adolescentes de um município de grande porte populacional no Nordeste brasileiro

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e analisar o histórico de dor de dente e seus fatores associados, entre adolescentes de escolas públicas de um município do Nordeste do Brasil. Realizou-se uma pesquisa observacional, descritiva, quantitativa e transversal, através da aplicação de quatro questionários junto a 458 adolescentes. Pela análise bivariada, a prevalência de dor de dente na vida foi alta entre os adolescentes de menor idade (76,9%; p = 0,004), que visitaram o Cirurgião-Dentista alguma vez (74,8%; p = 0,001) e que relataram medo frente ao atendimento odontológico (74,9%; p = 0,006). Todavia, nos últimos 6 meses, a prevalência de dor de dente foi baixa, na qual os adolescentes do sexo masculino (77,4%; p < 0,001) e de maior idade (73,1%; p = 0,031) relataram justamente não terem sentido dor. Quando da análise multivariada, a maior prevalência de dor de dente na vida se manteve entre os adolescentes de menor idade (76,9%; p = 0,003) e que relataram medo (74,9%; p = 0,006). A prevalência de dor de dente nos últimos 6 meses se manteve baixa na análise multivariada, entre os adolescentes do sexo masculino e de maior idade. Conclui-se que a prevalência de dor de dente na vida foi maior do que nos últimos 6 meses, havendo associação significativa com os fatores: sexo, idade, visita ao Cirurgião-Dentista e sensação de medo.

Self-perception and popular practices of oral health among black slave descendants elderly women in Brazil

Objective: To investigate the perception and oral health practices among older quilombola women (black population group, descendants of slaves in Brazil). Methods: Qualitative research with elderly women living in a rural community formed by descendants of slaves in Brazil. The study was performed through a semi-structured interview with nine of the rural community residents and following content analysis of the narratives. Results: All elderly women are edentulous (partially or totally) and dental problems that led them to use natural means of pain relief were identified. With the analysis of the transcripts, three main categories emerged: the elderly of Quilombola Rural Community Julia Mulata and edentulism; self-perceived oral health of older women of the Quilombola Rural Community Julia Mulata; Popular practices used in the presence of health problems. Conclusion: Quilombola elderly consider the loss of teeth as natural aging; they present life stories linked to dental problems; seek to solve their dental problems with the use of traditional folk therapies.