Resumo

LEMOS, Ana Carolina Oliveira  e  KATZ, Cintia Regina Tornisiello. Relationship between caregiver burden and dental caries in children with cerebral palsy. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2016, vol.52, n.2, pp. 100-110. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the prevalence of dental caries in 167 children, 6 to 12 years of age, with cerebral palsy and caregiver burden. Methods: The data were collected using questionnaires and clinical examinations. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Burden Interview scale. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, analysis of variance (ANOVA),and Student’s t-test. Results: The majority of the children exhibited spastic cerebral palsy (70.7%). The prevalence of caries in the deciduous and permanent teeth was 61.1% and 26.3%, respectively. The majority of caregivers reported some degree of burden (80.5%), with mild to moderate being the most common answer (55.0%), followed by moderate to severe (25.5%). The mean DMFT and decayed teeth values were higher in children with hemiparesis and lower in those with quadriparesis, with a statistically significant difference between these two categories (p=0.004). The occurrence of caries was not associated with the caregiver burden. (p=0.881 deciduous teeth; p=0.144 permanent teeth). However, this variable was associated with education level (p=0.044) and the location of origin (p=0.001). Conclusions: In this population, caries were associated with the problems inherent to cerebral palsy rather than the difficulties of the caregiver’s routine. Additional strategies should be drafted for caregivers to ensure a humanizing approach for cerebral palsy patients and their families.

Palavras-chave : Cerebral palsy.; Dental caries.; Caregivers..