Socioeconomic variables and the prevalence of dental caries in second and sixth grade Quebec children in 1989-90
Brodeur, J.M.; Payette, M.; Bedos, C.
Canadian Journal of Public Health 89(4): 274-279
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-4263 PMID: 9735525 Document Number: 490470
1) To determine caries risk factors in second and sixth grade Quebec children; 2)To test multivariate models which identify children as belonging to a high prevalence group. For the 1989-90 Santé Dentaire Québec survey, 2,291 second grade and 2,111 sixth grade school children responded to a questionnaire on their personal habits of hygiene and diet and underwent a clinical examination, while their parents answered a questionnaire regarding their family's socio-economic status. Statistics demonstrate a stronger link between socioeconomic variables and caries prevalence than demographic and sanitary factors. Children emerging from a high socioeconomic milieu have better dental health than children with low socioeconomic standing. The most effective model, However, registers a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 66%, revealing the inadequacy of statistical models to accurately identify children in the caries high prevalence group.