Small for gestational age and early childhood caries: the BRISA cohort study.

This study tests the hypothesis that children 12-30 months born small for gestational age (SGA) aged are more susceptible to severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). We used data on 865 children aged 12-30 months from a prospective cohort study conducted in a city in the northeast of Brazil. The study outcome was S-ECC, defined based on the proportion of decayed tooth surfaces (cavitated or not). The main exposure variable was SGA, defined according to the Kramer criterion and the INTERGROWTH-21st standard. Direct (SGA → S-ECC) and indirect effects were estimated using structural equation modeling, calculating standardized factor loadings (SFL) and P-values (alpha = 5%). The final models showed a good fit. SGA influenced S-ECC in the direct and indirect paths. In the group of SGA children with 12 or more erupted teeth defined according to the Kramer criterion, the direct effect was positive (SFL = 0.163; P = 0.019); while among all SGA children defined according to the INTERGROWTH-21st standard, the direct effect was negative (SFL = - 0.711; P < 0.001). Age and number of erupted teeth may influence the occurrence of S-ECC in SGA children, as the number of teeth affects the time of exposure to disease risk factors.

Perceived Stress Scale: confirmatory factor analysis of the PSS14 and PSS10 versions in two samples of pregnant women from the BRISA cohort.

This study aimed to assess the dimensional structure, reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and scalability of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The sample consisted of 1,447 pregnant women in São Luís (Maranhão State) and 1,400 in Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo State), Brazil. The 14 and 10-item versions of the scale were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, using weighted least squares means and variance (WLSMV). In both cities, the two-factor models (positive factors, measuring resilience to stressful situations, and negative factors, measuring stressful situations) showed better fit than the single-factor models. The two-factor models for the complete (PSS14) and reduced scale (PSS10) showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.70). All the factor loadings were ≥ 0.50, except for items 8 and 12 of the negative dimension and item 13 of the positive dimension. The correlations between both dimensions of stress and psychological violence showed the expected magnitude (0.46-0.59), providing evidence of an adequate convergent construct validity. The correlations between the scales' positive and negative dimensions were around 0.74-0.78, less than 0.85, which suggests adequate discriminant validity. Extracted mean variance and scalability were slightly higher for PSS10 than for PSS14. The results were consistent in both cities. In conclusion, the single-factor solution is not recommended for assessing stress in pregnant women. The reduced, 10-item two-factor scale appears to be more appropriate for measuring perceived stress in pregnant women.

Perceived Stress Scale: confirmatory factor analysis of the PSS14 and PSS10 versions in two samples of pregnant women from the BRISA cohort / Escala de Estresse Percebido: análise fatorial confirmatória das versões EEP14 e EEP10 em duas amostras de gestantes da coorte BRISA / Escala de Estrés Percibido: análisis factorial confirmatorio de las versiones EEP14 y EEP10 en dos muestras de gestantes de la cohorte BRISA

This study aimed to assess the dimensional structure, reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and scalability of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The sample consisted of 1,447 pregnant women in São Luís (Maranhão State) and 1,400 in Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo State), Brazil. The 14 and 10-item versions of the scale were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, using weighted least squares means and variance (WLSMV). In both cities, the two-factor models (positive factors, measuring resilience to stressful situations, and negative factors, measuring stressful situations) showed better fit than the single-factor models. The two-factor models for the complete (PSS14) and reduced scale (PSS10) showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.70). All the factor loadings were ≥ 0.50, except for items 8 and 12 of the negative dimension and item 13 of the positive dimension. The correlations between both dimensions of stress and psychological violence showed the expected magnitude (0.46-0.59), providing evidence of an adequate convergent construct validity. The correlations between the scales' positive and negative dimensions were around 0.74-0.78, less than 0.85, which suggests adequate discriminant validity. Extracted mean variance and scalability were slightly higher for PSS10 than for PSS14. The results were consistent in both cities. In conclusion, the single-factor solution is not recommended for assessing stress in pregnant women. The reduced, 10-item two-factor scale appears to be more appropriate for measuring perceived stress in pregnant women.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a estrutura dimensional, confiabilidade, validade convergente, validade discriminante e escalabilidade da Escala de Estresse Percebido (EEP). A amostra foi constituída por 1.447 gestantes de São Luís (Maranhão) e 1.400 de Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo), Brasil. Foram avaliadas as versões com 14 e 10 itens por meio da análise fatorial confirmatória, utilizando-se o estimador dos mínimos quadrados ponderados ajustados pela média e variância (WLSMV). Em ambas as cidades, os modelos bifatoriais (fatores positivo, medindo resiliência a situações estressoras, e negativo, medindo situações de estresse) apresentaram melhor ajuste do que os unifatoriais. Os modelos bifatoriais da escala completa (EEP14) e da reduzida (EEP10) apresentaram boa consistência interna (alfa de Cronbach ≥ 0.70). Todas as cargas fatoriais foram ≥ 0.50, exceto as dos itens 8 e 12 da dimensão negativa e a do item 13 da dimensão positiva. As correlações entre ambas as dimensões do estresse com a violência psicológica foram na magnitude esperada (0,46-0,59), fornecendo evidência de validade de construto convergente adequada. As correlações entre as dimensões positiva e negativa das escalas foram em torno de 0,74-0,78, menores do que < 0,85, o que sugere adequada validade discriminante. A variância média extraída e a escalabilidade foram ligeiramente maiores para a EEP10 do que a para a EEP14. Os resultados foram consistentes em ambas as cidades. Em conclusão, a solução unifatorial não é recomendada para avaliar estresse em mulheres grávidas. A escala bifatorial reduzida com 10 itens parece ser mais apropriada para medir estresse percebido em gestantes.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la estructura dimensional, confiabilidad, validez convergente, validez discriminante y escalabilidad de la Escala de Estrés Percibido (EEP). La muestra estaba constituida por 1.447 gestantes de Sao Luis (Maranhão) y 1.400 de Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo), Brasil. Se evaluaron las versiones con 14 y 10 ítems, mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio, utilizándose el estimador de los mínimos cuadrados ponderados ajustados por la media y variancia (WLSMV). En ambas ciudades, los modelos bifactoriales (factores positivo, midiendo resiliencia a situaciones estresantes, y negativo, midiendo situaciones de estrés) presentaron un mejor ajuste que el de los unifactoriales. Los modelos bifactoriales de la escala completa (EEP14) y de la reducida (EEP10) presentaron una buena consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach ≥ 0.70). Todas las cargas factoriales fueron ≥ 0.50, excepto las de los ítems 8 y 12 de la dimensión negativa y la del ítem 13 de la dimensión positiva. Las correlaciones entre ambas dimensiones del estrés con la violencia psicológica fueron en la magnitud esperada (0,46-0,59), proporcionando evidencia de validez del constructo convergente adecuada. Las correlaciones entre las dimensiones positiva y negativa de las escalas fueron en torno de 0,74-0,78, menores que < 0,85, lo que sugiere una adecuada validez discriminante. La variancia media extraída y la escalabilidad fueron ligeramente mayores para la EEP10 que para la EEP14. Los resultados fueron consistentes en ambas ciudades. En conclusión, la solución unifactorial no está recomendada para evaluar estrés en mujeres embarazadas. La escala bifactorial reducida con 10 ítems parece ser más apropiada para medir el estrés percibido en gestantes.

[Evaluation of oral health indicators in Brazil: a trend towards equity in dental care?]. / Avaliação dos indicadores de saúde bucal no Brasil: tendência evolutiva pró-equidade?

This study tested the hypothesis that oral health indicators from the Pact for Primary Healthcare 2006, the Biennial Pact for Health 2010-2011, and the indicators for the transition from the Pact for Health to the 2012 Organizational Contract for Public Action in Health did not differ between states of Brazil with different Human Development Indices (HDI). A longitudinal ecological study was performed, comparing the states of Brazil with the highest and lowest HDIs. Data were obtained from the information systems of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and submitted to mixed-effects linear regression (alpha = 5%). All the indicators for opportunity of access to oral health care were inversely associated with HDI. For indicators of use, the association only occurred with two indicators. The results showed a trend towards equity for indicators of opportunity of access to oral health.

Avaliação dos indicadores de saúde bucal no Brasil: tendência evolutiva pró-equidade? / Evaluation of oral health indicators in Brazil: a trend towards equity in dental care? / Evaluación de los indicadores de salud bucal en Brasil: ¿tendencia evolutiva pro-equidad?

Resumo Foi testada a hipótese de que os indicadores de saúde bucal, obtidos do Pacto da Atenção Básica de 2006, Pacto pela Saúde do biênio 2010/2011 e indicadores de transição entre o Pacto pela Saúde e Contrato Organizativo da Ação Pública em Saúde de 2012, não diferiam entre as Unidades Federativas (UF) brasileiras com diferentes Índices de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH). Para isso, foi realizado um estudo longitudinal ecológico comparando as UF do Brasil com extremos de IDH. Os dados foram obtidos dos sistemas de informação do SUS e do Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento, e submetidos à análise de regressão linear de efeitos mistos (alfa = 5%). Todos os indicadores de oportunidade de acesso foram associados negativamente com o IDH. Para os de utilização, a associação ocorreu para apenas dois indicadores. Os resultados evidenciaram uma tendência evolutiva pró-equidade para indicadores de oportunidade de acesso em relação à saúde bucal.

Abstract This study tested the hypothesis that oral health indicators from the Pact for Primary Healthcare 2006, the Biennial Pact for Health 2010-2011, and the indicators for the transition from the Pact for Health to the 2012 Organizational Contract for Public Action in Health did not differ between states of Brazil with different Human Development Indices (HDI). A longitudinal ecological study was performed, comparing the states of Brazil with the highest and lowest HDIs. Data were obtained from the information systems of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and submitted to mixed-effects linear regression (alpha = 5%). All the indicators for opportunity of access to oral health care were inversely associated with HDI. For indicators of use, the association only occurred with two indicators. The results showed a trend towards equity for indicators of opportunity of access to oral health.

Resumen Fue evaluada la hipótesis de que los indicadores de salud bucal obtenidos en el Pacto de Atención Básica de 2006, en el Pacto de Salud del bienio 2010/2011 e indicadores de transición entre el Pacto por la Salud y Contrato Organizativo de Acción Pública en Salud de 2012, no fueron diferentes entre las Unidades Federativas (UF) brasileñas con diferentes Índices de Desarrollo Humano (IDH). Para eso, se realizó un estudio longitudinal ecológico comparando las UF de Brasil con extremos del IDH. Los datos fueron obtenidos de los sistemas de información del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) y del Programa de Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo, y sometidos a un análisis de regresión lineal de efectos mixtos (alfa = 5%). Todos los indicadores de oportunidad de acceso fueron asociados negativamente con el IDH. Para los de utilización, la asociación se produjo en apenas dos indicadores. Los resultados mostraron una tendencia evolutiva pro-equidad para los indicadores de oportunidad de acceso en relación con la salud bucal.

Effect of Chlorhexidine Gel in Mentally Handicapped Children highly Infected with Streptococcus Mutans

Objective:To evaluate the effect of 1% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel on mentally handicapped children (n=11) highly infected with Streptococcus mutans (SM) and evaluate the re-colonization time of this bacterium after the treatment period.. Material and Methods:Before CHX treatment, saliva samples were collected to establish baseline saliva SM levels. CHX gel was daily applied for 5 min, for 7 consecutive days. Saliva samples were then collected after 7, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days to evaluate SM oral re-colonization. Data were analyzed by the Wilcoxon test (α=0.05).Results:When compared to baseline (5.7 / 3.0 x 105), the collection performed 7 days after CHX treatment (0.06 / 0.2 x 105) showed a significant reduction (P <0.05) in SM saliva levels (mean / s.d., CFU ml-1). In subsequent collections, a gradual SM re-colonization was observed, and after 60 days of treatment, the levels of this bacterium (0.8 / 0.9 x 105) no longer statistically differed from SM levels considered high risk to caries (105) (P> 0.05).Conclusion:Treatment with CHX gel for 7 days was effective in reducing the SM levels of mentally handicapped children and should be repeated after 60 days to control the risk of caries in these children...

Effect of chlorhexidine gel containing saccharin or aspartame in deaf children highly infected with mutans streptococci

Aim: Since deaf children are unable to comprehend or cooperate with dental treatment due to lack of communication, preventive measures may be an important way to control the high prevalence of dental caries in these patients. The aim of the this study was to evaluate the effect of an intensive treatment with chlorhexidine (CHX) gel, containing either saccharin or aspartame, in deaf children highly infected with mutans streptococci (MS). Methods: Eighteen children were randomly divided into two groups, according to the sweetener used to improve the CHX gel bitter taste: saccharin or aspartame. Before CHX treatment, saliva samples were collected to establish baseline microbial data for MS. CHX gel was applied on two consecutive days, four times the first day and three times the second day. Saliva samples were then taken after 7, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days to evaluate MS oral recolonization. Results: CHX gel containing saccharin was not effective on the reduction of MS levels, while the gel containing aspartame decreased significantly MS levels after treatment (P<.05). Conclusions: Although a new CHX application may be necessary after 60 days to control caries risk and MS levels, CHX treatment should be individually controlled because of variations in the response of subjects.