Original scientific paper
A Survey of Orodental Health in Refugees and Displaced Persons-Secondary School Pupils
Ljiljana Valentak
; ZS "J. Vlahovic ", Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Data obtained by systematic examination and results collected during
one academic year were analyzed to assess the orodental health and cooperativivity o f the refugee (group 1) and displaced (group 2) high school pupils. Caries index person of 100% pointed to a high prevalence of caries severity. Caries index for groups 1 and 2 teeth
was 36.4% and 1.3%, respectively. DMFT structure was quite poor:
both groups had more than 40% o f carious teeth. Dental health care
index (DHCI) was less than 49%, indicating inadequate dental health
care. Diseases of oral mucosa were recorded in 40% of the students
from both groups. Response of the pupils to systematic examination
and treatment was low: more than 20% o f them did not present
for systematic examination, about 30% presented for treatment, and less than 25% underwent the dental treatment required. A little more than 30% of the total number of carious teeth were properly treated.
The students did not take advantage of the oral health care standard
offered. Accordingly, their attitude toward orodental health should be changed by health education and they should be provided be changed by health education and they should be provided with instructions on the appropriate way of solving orodental problems, thus improving their orodental health in general.
Keywords
orodental health; refugees; displaced children
Hrčak ID:
98302
URI
Publication date:
15.3.1996.
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