ORAL HEALTH STATUS OF VISUALLY-IMPAIRED AND SIGHTED GROUPS OF CHILDREN IN BENGHAZI: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

الملخص

Objectives: The aims of this study were to study the prevalence of dental trauma and DMFT index in a group of visually-impaired children and compare them with a group of sighted counterparts. Effect of oral hygiene measures on DMFT index was also investigated in both groups.
Materials and Methods: Two groups of visually-impaired and sighted children (n = 25 for each & N = 50, age range 10 – 14 years) were recruited from Jam’yatAlkafeef (The Blind Institution) andAsma elementary private school in Benghazi, Libya. Statistical analysis using Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and regression, were used to determine the association and differences between the two groups in terms of DMFT index and its influence by oral
hygiene measures. A statistical calculation was also presented proving that the sample size in our study was sufficient.
Results: There was no significant difference between the DMFT index between the two groups (p = 0.2364); howeverthe trauma showed a significant difference being more encountered in visually-impaired children. The sample size calculation was also found to fit exactly the number selected for the study for both groups. The oral hygiene measures practiced by children did not show any significant effect on the prevalence of DMFT scores (rs = 0.006).
Conclusion: This cross-sectional clinical survey showed a higher tendency of visuallyimpaired children to encounter trauma due to their limited awareness of their surroundings; therefore, they should be provided with more care and supervision. Such studies which depend mainly on statistical methods should encompass sufficient subjects; which was confirmed by special statistical formula. The similar dietary habits and food contents among children in Benghazi could explain the insignificant difference in the prevalence of DMFT among visually-impaired and sighted children.