Bullying, its effects on attitude towards class attendance and the contribution of physical and dentofacial features among adolescents in Northern Nigeria.

Background Bullying is a worldwide problem with varying consequences. Victims of school bullying may be targeted for many reasons including their appearance. They may also fear school and have difficulties in concentration. Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of bullying amongst adolescents in Kano, Northern Nigeria, the contribution of physical features and the perceived effect of bullying on their academic performance and school attendance. Subjects and methods Eight hundred and thirty-five students aged between 12 years and 17 years from eight randomly selected secondary schools in Kano, Nigeria took part in this study. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires and analysis was by SPSS version 17. Results The pupils' mean age and standard deviation was 14.79 + 1.53 years. There were more male and private school pupils with 55.1% and 62%, respectively. About 43% of respondents reported being victims of bullying while about 32% had bullied someone else. There was more bullying in public schools than in private schools (p-value = 0.003). However, there was no significant gender difference (p > 0.05). More bullied pupils hated being in or outside the classroom (p < 0.05). Similarly, significantly higher number of bullied pupils played truant than non-bullied (p < 0.001). One-fifth of the victims of bullying felt it had consequences on their academic performance. Bullies frequently targeted general physical and dento-facial appearance. Conclusion The prevalence of bullying was high among the sampled population especially within public schools. This also had a significant negative effect on the students' academic performance.

The Wits appraisal among a Nigerian sub-population: an assessment of dental base geometric factors

The Wits appraisal is a common linear cephalometric analytic tool established by Jacobson. It has been reported to be superior to angular cephalometric measures as it is not dependent on pericranial structures and their variations both during growth and orthodontic treatment. AIM: To obtain reference values for the Wits appraisal among Nigerians and assess the effect of the dental base geometry on it. METHODS: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 100 Nigerian subjects with normal occlusion were analyzed to obtain the Wits appraisal, and the effect of the vertical distance from subspinale to supramentale, length of the palatal and mandibular planes, the mandibular plane angle as well as the palatal plane angle were assessed using the ANOVA and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 20.69 ± 4.9 years. Thirty-four (34%) were males and 66(66%) were females. Mean Wits value of -3.43 ± 3.24 mm was obtained based on the functional occlusal plane (FOP). Linear regression analysis showed that the vertical height from subspinale (A point) to supramentale (B point) caused a significant change in the Wits appraisal reading in participants still undergoing active growth process (less than 16 years of age) (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: It is advocated that the Wits appraisal be used as a moderator to the ANB angle among Nigerians. However, as a result of dental height variations its use in growing Nigerian children requires caution.

Normative and perceived orthodontic treatment need of senior year dental students / Necessidade normativa e percebida de tratamento ortodôntico de estudantes de odontologia do último ano

The purpose of this study was to determine perceived and normative orthodontic treatment need of senior year dental students using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine senior year students of the Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria, participated. Normative assessment of occlusal characteristics was carried out using IOTN and DAI while the Aesthetic Component (AC) scale of IOTN was used by the students to assess perceived need. Results: With the AC scale of IOTN, 6.1% of the students expressed “borderline need” and 2% “great need” for treatment, while normative need was 41.4% for “borderline need” and 11.1% for “great need”. The Dental Health Component found 37.4% and 24.2% in these categories, respectively. The DAI gave 26.3%, 13.1% and 15.1% in the elective treatment, highly desirable treatment and mandatory treatment categories respectively. No gender-dependent differences were found. Moderate correlation was observed between perceived and normative need (r=0.643), which was significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: Over half of the dental students had orthodontic treatment need with both indices. Normative and perceived treatment need differed significantly. The perception of treatment need is not only influenced by knowledge and severity of malocclusion, as psychosocial factors acting on individuals may be involved...

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a necessidade normativa e percebida de tratamento ortodôntico de estudantes de odontologia do último ano, utilizando o Índice de Necessidade de Tratamento Ortodôntico(IOTN) e o Índice de Estética Dental (DAI). Materiais e Métodos: Participaram do estudo 99 alunos do último ano da Faculdade de Odontologia, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigéria. A avaliação normativa de características oclusais foi realizada utilizando IOTN e DAI, enquanto a escala do componente Estética (AC)do índice IOTN foi utilizada pelos alunos para avaliar a necessidade percebida. Resultados: Em relação à escala AC do IOTN, 6,1% dos estudantes expressaram “necessidade intermediária” e 2% “grande necessidade” de tratamento, enquanto a necessidade normativa foi de 41,4% para “necessidade intermediária” e 11,1% para “grande necessidade”. O Componente de Saúde Dental encontrou 37,4% e 24,2% nestas categorias, respectivamente. O DAI detectou 26,3%, 13,1% e 15,1% para as categorias tratamento eletivo, tratamento altamente desejável e tratamento obrigatório, respectivamente. Não houve diferenças quanto ao gênero. Foi observada correlação moderada entre a necessidade percebida e normativa (r=0,643), sendo esta significativa (p<0,001).Conclusão: Detectou-se necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico em mais da metade dos estudantes de odontologia em ambos os índices. As necessidades normativa e percebida de tratamento diferiram significativamente. A percepção da necessidade de tratamento não é influenciada apenas pelo conhecimento e pela severidade da má oclusão, pois fatores psicossociais que atuam sobre os indivíduos também podem estar envolvidos...