Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved]
Background: Health status is largely determined by socio-economic status. The general health of individuals at higher social hierarchy is better than people in lower levels. Likewise, people with higher socio-economic status have better oral health than lower socio-economic groups. There has not bee...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2016-04-01
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| Online Access: | http://f1000research.com/articles/5-767/v1 |
| _version_ | 1819109577083322368 |
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| author | Ali Golkari Aira Sabokseir Aubrey Sheiham Richard G. Watt |
| author_facet | Ali Golkari Aira Sabokseir Aubrey Sheiham Richard G. Watt |
| author_sort | Ali Golkari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Health status is largely determined by socio-economic status. The general health of individuals at higher social hierarchy is better than people in lower levels. Likewise, people with higher socio-economic status have better oral health than lower socio-economic groups. There has not been much work regarding the influence of socio-economic status on the health conditions of children in developing countries, particularly in Iran. The aim of this study was to compare the oral and general health conditions of primary school children of three different socio-economic areas in the city of Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 335, 8- to 11-year-old primary schoolchildren in Shiraz. The children were selected by a three-stage cluster sampling method from three socio-economically different areas. Tools and methods used by the United Kingdom’s Medical Research Council were used to obtain anthropometric variables as indicators of general health. The Decay, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index for permanent teeth, dmft Index for primary teeth, the Modified Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) Index, the Gingival Index (GI) and the Debris Index-Simplified (DI-S) were used for oral health assessment. Results: Height (P<0.001), weight (P<0.001), and BMI (P=0.001) significantly increased as the socio-economic status of area increased. GI score (P<0.001), DI-S score (P<0.001), number of permanent teeth with DDE (P=0.008), and number of DDE lesions in permanent teeth (P=0.008) significantly decreased as the socio-economic status of area increased. Discussion: Findings of this study generally confirmed that social gradients exist in both general and oral health status of the primary schoolchildren of Shiraz. The influence of socio-economic status on health condition means children have different life chances based on their socio-economic conditions. These findings emphasize the significance of interventions for tackling socio-economic inequalities in order to improve the health status of children in lower socio-economic areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:28:02Z |
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| id | doaj.art-7537d787d09a4f78894556ec9d343cf2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:28:02Z |
| publishDate | 2016-04-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | F1000Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-7537d787d09a4f78894556ec9d343cf22022-12-21T18:40:34ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022016-04-01510.12688/f1000research.8641.19297Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved]Ali Golkari0Aira Sabokseir1Aubrey Sheiham2Richard G. Watt3Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UKDepartment of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, 71345-1836, IranResearch Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UKResearch Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UKBackground: Health status is largely determined by socio-economic status. The general health of individuals at higher social hierarchy is better than people in lower levels. Likewise, people with higher socio-economic status have better oral health than lower socio-economic groups. There has not been much work regarding the influence of socio-economic status on the health conditions of children in developing countries, particularly in Iran. The aim of this study was to compare the oral and general health conditions of primary school children of three different socio-economic areas in the city of Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 335, 8- to 11-year-old primary schoolchildren in Shiraz. The children were selected by a three-stage cluster sampling method from three socio-economically different areas. Tools and methods used by the United Kingdom’s Medical Research Council were used to obtain anthropometric variables as indicators of general health. The Decay, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index for permanent teeth, dmft Index for primary teeth, the Modified Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) Index, the Gingival Index (GI) and the Debris Index-Simplified (DI-S) were used for oral health assessment. Results: Height (P<0.001), weight (P<0.001), and BMI (P=0.001) significantly increased as the socio-economic status of area increased. GI score (P<0.001), DI-S score (P<0.001), number of permanent teeth with DDE (P=0.008), and number of DDE lesions in permanent teeth (P=0.008) significantly decreased as the socio-economic status of area increased. Discussion: Findings of this study generally confirmed that social gradients exist in both general and oral health status of the primary schoolchildren of Shiraz. The influence of socio-economic status on health condition means children have different life chances based on their socio-economic conditions. These findings emphasize the significance of interventions for tackling socio-economic inequalities in order to improve the health status of children in lower socio-economic areas.http://f1000research.com/articles/5-767/v1Health Systems & Services ResearchSocial & Behavioral Determinants of Health |
| spellingShingle | Ali Golkari Aira Sabokseir Aubrey Sheiham Richard G. Watt Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved] F1000Research Health Systems & Services Research Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health |
| title | Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved] |
| title_full | Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved] |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved] |
| title_short | Socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in Shiraz, Iran [version 1; referees: 3 approved] |
| title_sort | socioeconomic gradients in general and oral health of primary school children in shiraz iran version 1 referees 3 approved |
| topic | Health Systems & Services Research Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health |
| url | http://f1000research.com/articles/5-767/v1 |
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