Scholarlink

Objectives <p>To describe dental caries experience, treatment needs, and oral hygiene status among institutionalised people with disabilities in Thailand, and to assess age patterns and facility-level differences between two sex-segregated foster homes under universal health coverage (UHC).</p> Materials and methods <p>A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 301 residents aged 7–59 years in two government-run foster homes selected by proportionate stratified random sampling. Examinations used World Health Organization (WHO) dentition criteria and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for untreated decay (dt/DT &gt; 0) and caries experience (dmft/DMFT &gt; 0), adjusting for age and facility. Modified Poisson models with robust standard errors were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) as sensitivity analyses.</p> Results <p>The mean dmft/DMFT index was 9.36 ± 7.24; 89.4% had caries experience and 85.4% had untreated decay. Caries burden increased with age. Adults (19–59 years) had higher odds of untreated decay (aOR 2.80; 95% CI 1.23–6.39) and caries experience (aOR 5.12; 95% CI 1.84–14.24) than children (≤ 12 years). The female facility had higher odds of caries experience than the male facility (aOR 2.60; 95% CI 1.07–6.30); because the institutions were sex-segregated, this should be interpreted as a facility-level difference rather than a biological sex effect. Sensitivity analyses using aPRs confirmed these associations.</p> Conclusions <p>Despite UHC, institutionalised residents with disabilities had very high levels of untreated caries and poor oral hygiene, indicating persistent gaps between coverage and effective access to care. Observed differences between facilities reflect structural or organisational factors rather than biological sex effects, as the two institutions were sex-segregated.</p> Clinical relevance <p>Institutionalised people with disabilities are rarely represented in national oral health surveys, yet they face substantial barriers to care. Our findings demonstrate a very high caries burden and poor oral hygiene despite universal health coverage, underscoring the need for targeted institutional protocols, enhanced caregiver training, and proactive outreach services to bridge the gap between policy and practice.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Dental caries, treatment needs, and oral hygiene status among institutionalised people with disabilities in Thailand: a cross-sectional observational study of oral health equity under universal health coverage

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月26日

查看全文
  • Nithimar Sermsuti-Anuwat,
  • Tanit Arunratanothai,
  • Itt Assoratgoon,
  • Khunnakrit Ratchatasupak,
  • Ronlada Porntirit,
  • Daophon Ardiam

摘要

Objectives

To describe dental caries experience, treatment needs, and oral hygiene status among institutionalised people with disabilities in Thailand, and to assess age patterns and facility-level differences between two sex-segregated foster homes under universal health coverage (UHC).

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 301 residents aged 7–59 years in two government-run foster homes selected by proportionate stratified random sampling. Examinations used World Health Organization (WHO) dentition criteria and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for untreated decay (dt/DT > 0) and caries experience (dmft/DMFT > 0), adjusting for age and facility. Modified Poisson models with robust standard errors were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) as sensitivity analyses.

Results

The mean dmft/DMFT index was 9.36 ± 7.24; 89.4% had caries experience and 85.4% had untreated decay. Caries burden increased with age. Adults (19–59 years) had higher odds of untreated decay (aOR 2.80; 95% CI 1.23–6.39) and caries experience (aOR 5.12; 95% CI 1.84–14.24) than children (≤ 12 years). The female facility had higher odds of caries experience than the male facility (aOR 2.60; 95% CI 1.07–6.30); because the institutions were sex-segregated, this should be interpreted as a facility-level difference rather than a biological sex effect. Sensitivity analyses using aPRs confirmed these associations.

Conclusions

Despite UHC, institutionalised residents with disabilities had very high levels of untreated caries and poor oral hygiene, indicating persistent gaps between coverage and effective access to care. Observed differences between facilities reflect structural or organisational factors rather than biological sex effects, as the two institutions were sex-segregated.

Clinical relevance

Institutionalised people with disabilities are rarely represented in national oral health surveys, yet they face substantial barriers to care. Our findings demonstrate a very high caries burden and poor oral hygiene despite universal health coverage, underscoring the need for targeted institutional protocols, enhanced caregiver training, and proactive outreach services to bridge the gap between policy and practice.