Relación de los Determinantes Sociales y el Índice de Higiene Oral Simplificado (IHOS), en los niños del Cantón Manta en 2024.

Abstract

Social determinants of health integrate multiple causality in the health-disease process. Bacterial plaque plays a fundamental role in the development of caries and periodontal diseases. Objective: To describe the relationship between social determinants of health and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (SOH-I) of children in the Manta canton in 2024. Material and methods: It was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 218 children and adolescents from the Manta canton during the period 2024-1. The clinical examination was carried out using form 033 of the Ministry of Public Health and the SOH-I was obtained. The Questionnaire on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH Questionnaire) was also applied. Results: There was a higher proportion of the male gender (61.5%) and the age group from five to seven years with 71.1%. 99.5% had bacterial plaque and 82.1% had dental calculus. The SOH-I was 2.93 (95% CI = 2.75 - 3.11) and was distributed according to its components in 2.02 ± 0.788 for plaque and 0.91 ± 0.824 for calculus. According to the responses to the social determinants instrument, only the categories family care (p = 0.012) and safety (p = 0.040) were relevant because there was statistical significance. Conclusion: Although social determinants did not play a central role in the oral hygiene conditions of children and adolescents in this study, it is still important to take them into account when developing oral health plans and programs aimed at this population.