Mothers' oral health literacy and children's oral health status in Pikine, Senegal: A pilot study.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: As elsewhere, disadvantaged children in Senegal are those most affected by dental diseases and difficulties in obtaining dental care. Studies conducted mainly in developed countries suggest that a low level of mothers' OHL is correlated with poor oral health of their children. The objective of this study is to estimate the level of mothers' OHL in Senegal and its relationto the dental health of their children. METHODS: This cross-sectional epidemiological survey took place among 315 children aged from 3 to 9 years old and their mothers. It estimated the children's dental health status by clinical examination which used a disposable examination kit and a headlamp, took place at the child's home, in the mother's presence. Examiners interviewing the mothers administered the Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire to determine their OHL and questioned them further about their social characteristics and their children's dental health behaviour. Logistic regression and correlations were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The OHL score ranges from 0 to 17; mothers' mean score was 6.5 (±3.1) and 56.5% had a low score (below the median). The prevalence of dental caries in children was 64.8%. Mothers' high OHL is associated with children caries free and low prevalence of dental caries. The logistic regression showed a significantly protective relation between children's dental caries and mothers' high OHL scores (mean score 12-17) (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.29-0.88), high educational level (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.23-0.76) and a high level of social contact (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15-0.63). The structural analysis showed that OHL was significantly correlated with both the mothers' social position (r = 0.61 and P<0.001) and the children's caries (r = -0.26 and P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The OHL level of Senegalese mothers was significantly associated with their children's dental caries. Improving mothers' OHL might therefore help strengthen their capacities to promote oral health, thus helping to improve their children's dental health and reduce inequalities.

Resilience from the ground up: how are local resilience perceptions and global frameworks aligned?

Numerous resilience measurement frameworks for climate programmes have emerged over the past decade to operationalise the concept and aggregate results within and between programmes. Proxies of resilience, including subjective measures using perception data, have been proposed to measure resilience, but there is limited evidence on their validity and use for policy and practice. This article draws on research on the Decentralising Climate Funds project of the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters programme, which supports communities in Mali and Senegal to improve climate resilience through locally controlled adaptation funds. It explores attributes of resilience from this bottom-up perspective to assess its predictors and alignment with food security, as a proxy of well-being. We find different patterns when comparing resilience and the well-being proxy, illustrating that the interplay between the two is still unclear. Results also point to the importance of contextualising resilience, raising implications for aggregating results.

Superstitious knowledge of the phenomena of teeth eruption in rural area of Ferlo in Senegal

Teeth are physiological phenomenon that appears in child and who begins around 6 to 8 months after birth. The aim of this work was to study superstitious knowledge of the phenomena of teeth eruption in the mothers peulhs of Ferlo in Senegal. The research method was a descriptive and qualitative study; comprising questioning the mothers of children in the phase of active teeth eruption by structured, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Information collected were related to the signs and symptoms of teeth, the superstitions associated with the dental age of eruption, the first type of tooth on the arcade, the rhizalyse and the practices of oral hygiene in the child. Data were analysed manually and presented in framed and of verbatims. From the findings, it is seen that fever, the diarrhoea, the vomiting and the dribbles constituted the principal signs. The native or neonatal tooth and the use of the stick rub-tooth to clean the teeth in the evening and the phenomenon of rhizalyse were related to superstitious interpretations. Programs of information and communication would make it possible to better sensitize the populations to optimize the good practices in the children in active phase of teeth eruption

[Mothers' responses to teething in children in Ferlo, Senegal]. / Réponses thérapeutiques des mères face à l'éruption dentaire chez les enfants du Ferlo au Sénégal.

INTRODUCTION: Tooth eruption is a process that begins in infancy and continues throughout childhood and adolescence. This complex phenomenon induces systemic disorders requiring specific management. The objective of this study was to identify the therapeutic responses to teething in children in Ferlo, Senegal. METHODS: This qualitative study focused on mothers of teething children (infants and young children). Information was collected by individual interviews (20 persons) and two focus groups (six persons/group) concerning the symptoms and signs of teething, the first-line solution in the presence of such signs, the type and form of prevention and the mother's psychological aspects during this period. RESULTS: The methods used by mothers to treat signs of teething were incantations on strings of knots, amulets, plants and various hard objects such as coins, cowry shells, or wild donkey teeth. CONCLUSION: These methods responded to the mothers' concerns to prevent and treat the signs accompanying teething. However, mass communication sessions may be necessary to encourage visits to the dentist to improve the management of complications.

The role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal.

Oral diseases costs are among the most expensive health care benefits. In Senegal, households contribute up to 37.6% of the national health spending through direct payments. The aim of this work was to study the role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal. The study was based on health insurance agents and policyholders. The study reveals that oral health care coverage through health insurance still does not meet requirements for treatment of oral infections. In financial terms, oral health care costs health insurance too much. As a result, carriers cover them partially. On top of that, the majority of the population's lack of knowledge about mutual, because they have a little background on oral health care, the latter weighs heavily on health insurance leading to the use of self-medication, traditional medicine and handicraft prosthetists. The analysis reveals an unequal access to oral health care through the health insurance system. To bring under control the expenditure for oral health care, carriers and dental surgeons must work together to raise the populations' awareness on community solidarity.

Relation entre santé parodontale chez la femme enceinte et faible poids du nouveau-né à la naissance à Dakar/Sénégal: étude cas-témoin

INTRODUCTION: Plusieurs facteurs de risques ont été incriminés dans la survenue du faible poids. Cependant Barnett et al trouvent que 25% des naissances de faible poids ou prématurés se produisent sans facteurs de risque connus. La relation entre la maladie parodontale et la grossesse et particulièrement le faible poids à la naissance a été évoquée par Offenbacher en 1996. L'objectif de ce travail est d'étudier la relation état parodontal chez la femme enceinte et la survenue du faible poids à la naissance du nouveau-né. MÉTHODE: L'étude était de type cas-témoin portant sur 397 patients dont 129 femmes enceintes donnant un bébé de faible poids (cas) versus 258 femmes enceintes donnant un bébé de poids normal (témoins). Les données collectées concernaient les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les habitudes de vie, les données concernant le faible poids et celles parodontales : indice de plaque, indice de saignement papillaire perte d'attache clinique, profondeur de poche et le CPITN. Les données en analyse univariée étaient exprimées en proportions et moyennes puis des rapports de cotes avec leurs intervalles de confiance en analyse multivariée. RÉSULTATS: Les caractéristiques parodontales sont plus élevées chez les cas que chez les témoins. Il apparait que la parodontite était significativement associée au faible poids (P= 0,00013) ajustée sur l'âge de la mère, l'IMC et les autres paramètres parodontaux. L'âge de la mère et l'indice de plaque étaient marginalement associés au faible poids (P= 0,05 et 0,053) tandis que l'IMC, l'indice gingival et de saignement papillaire étaient aussi associés à la survenue du faible poids

The role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal

Oral diseases costs are among the most expensive health care benefits. In Senegal, households contribute up to 37.6% of the national health spending through direct payments. The aim of this work was to study the role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal. The study was based on health insurance agents and policyholders. The study reveals that oral health care coverage through health insurance still does not meet requirements for treatment of oral infections. In financial terms, oral health care costs health insurance too much. As a result, carriers cover them partially. On top of that, the majority of the population's lack of knowledge about mutual, because they have a little background on oral health care, the latter weighs heavily on health insurance leading to the use of self-medication, traditional medicine and handicraft prosthetists. The analysis reveals an unequal access to oral health care through the health insurance system. To bring under control the expenditure for oral health care, carriers and dental surgeons must work together to raise the populations' awareness on community solidarity

[Oral health status, supply of oral and dental care among Senegalese children: a review of available data]. / État de santé, offre et recours aux soins bucco-dentaires chez les enfants sénégalais?: synthèse des données disponibles.

INTRODUCTION: Oral and dental diseases are a major public health problem due to their high prevalence and their impact on general health. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the oral health status and oral health care supply and uptake in children. METHOD: The available literature were reviewed. The Medline and Embase databases, and the Senegal Ministry of Health and Social Action and National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD) websites were consulted. A total of 7 articles, 3 PhD theses and 8 reports were selected for analysis. The review was supplemented by interviews. RESULTS: Overall, children have poor oral health status. Health care supply is insufficient (1 dentist/38,000 residents) and poorly distributed (mostly in the capital) with unequal oral health care uptake. CONCLUSION: This systematic review of the literature revealed a lack of reliable data on the oral health of children. It also concluded on a generally poor oral health status.

Dental Care Risk Management Provided by Social Protection Institutions of Senegal.

Nowadays in Senegal, located in West Africa, social protection institutions are confronted with a substantially increased healthcare expenditure in general, and oral care in particular. The ability of the leadership to use techniques to contain the impact of risks they are facing determine their viability. The aim of our study was to analyze the risk management of dental care coverage by those institutions. The study was descriptive, extensive and focused on all active social protection Institutions in Senegal since 2005, at least. Our results showed that, in spite of the implementation of risk management mechanisms such as patient co-payment (97% of institutions), coverage ceiling (26%) and dentist council (15%), healthcare expenditure still growing. For the containment of oral care expenditure increase, it is important to raise awareness among social protection institutions for a greater use of existing risk management mechanisms.

[Pharmacovigilance among dentists: a survey of practitioners in Dakar, Senegal]. / Pharmacovigilance chez les chirurgiens-dentistes: enquête dans la région de dakar, Sénégal.

AIM: Since 1968, the World Health Organization has used an international pharmacovigilance programme to monitor and examine the effects of drugs. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of dentists toward pharmacovigilance. METHODS: The paper presents the results of a cross-sectional descriptive study of 103 dentists in Senegal, based on an exhaustive selection process. Data were collected on the dentists' sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge and attitudes toward pharmacovigilance. RESULTS: Over 50% of the sample were general practitioners. The average number of years of professional experience was 9 years. Painkillers (41.9%) were the most widely prescribed drugs, followed by antibiotics, which were particularly involved in the onset of adverse effects (41.8%). Adverse effects were observed by just 3.8% of the sample. Almost 90% of the participants were not aware of the existing pharmacovigilance system. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that pharmacovigilance training and education sessions for dentists are needed to improve their knowledge of pharmacovigilance and to foster positive attitudes toward adverse effects.

The effect of response style on self-reported Conscientiousness across 20 countries.

Rankings of countries on mean levels of self-reported Conscientiousness continue to puzzle researchers. Based on the hypothesis that cross-cultural differences in the tendency to prefer extreme response categories of ordinal rating scales over moderate categories can influence the comparability of self-reports, this study investigated possible effects of response style on the mean levels of self-reported Conscientiousness in 22 samples from 20 countries. Extreme and neutral responding were estimated based on respondents' ratings of 30 hypothetical people described in short vignettes. In the vignette ratings, clear cross-sample differences in extreme and neutral responding emerged. These responding style differences were correlated with mean self-reported Conscientiousness scores. Correcting self-reports for extreme and neutral responding changed sample rankings of Conscientiousness, as well as the predictive validities of these rankings for external criteria. The findings suggest that the puzzling country rankings of self-reported Conscientiousness may to some extent result from differences in response styles.

A cross-cultural study of the higher-order structures underlying personality disorders in French-speaking Africa and Switzerland.

Most studies about the higher-order dimensions to be considered in order to parsimoniously describe Personality Disorders (PDs) have identified between two and four factors but there is still no consensus about their exact number. In this context, the cultural stability of these structures might be a criterion to be considered. The aim of this study was to identify stable higher-order structures of PD traits in a French-speaking African and Swiss sample (N = 2,711). All subjects completed the IPDE screening questionnaire. Using Everett's criterion and conducting a series of principal component analyses, a cross-culturally stable two- and four-factor structure were identified, associated with a total congruence coefficient of .98 and .94, respectively, after Procrustes rotation. Moreover, these two structures were also highly replicable across the four African regions considered, North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, and Mauritius, with a mean total congruence coefficient of .97 and .87, respectively. The four-factor structure presented the advantage of being similar to Livesely's four components and of describing the ten PDs more accurately.