The global spread of COVID-19 forced schools at all educational levels to close, which was repeated in more than 60 countries. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of ...dental students world wide. This study hypothesizes that the prevalence of depression in dental students from El Salvador is higher than that reported in studies from Europe, Asia, and North America.
This study was an online cross-sectional survey performed at the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Salvador. The PHQ-9 questionnaire was applied to know the level of depression of the students, and a questionnaire focused on learning the opinion of the students on the hybrid teaching model adopted. Approximately 450 students participated in both questionnaires.
Regarding the levels of depression present in the students, 14% had minimal depression, 29% had medium depression, 23% had moderate depression and, 34% had severe depression. The students had an excellent opinion regarding the hybrid learning model.
The prevalence of depression in dental students in El Salvador seems to be higher than that reported in studies in non-Latin American countries. Therefore, universities must generate care plans for mental health to avoid these harmful effects on students during future contingencies.
Abstract
Introduction
Older adults are a highly vulnerable group in their general health condition, including oral health that can be influenced by different factors, among them, changes in oral ...tissues inherent to the physiological processes of aging and by systemic condition. In El Salvador, it is a group that has received little attention at the public health level.
Objective
To determine the profile of the oral health status and treatment needs of the elderly population in El Salvador.
Materials and methods
Secondary cross-sectional analysis of data from the last oral health survey in 471 Salvadorans aged 60 years and older. The variables under study were: sociodemographics, brushing frequency, oral hygiene according to simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), caries experience according to decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (DMFT) modified with international caries detection and assessment system (ICDAS) criteria, periodontal status through the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN), edentulism and treatment needs. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test, ANOVA, z-test and linear regression (
p
< 0.05).
Results
The older adults presented poor oral hygiene, low brushing frequency, high tooth loss with an average of 16 missing teeth while one third presented total edentulism. Most of the older adults were categorized as having "poor or very Poor" oral hygiene. Almost all respondents presented some degree of periodontal disease and required restorative intervention.
Conclusion
The oral health status of elderly Salvadoran is poor. Furthermore, the development of public policies and specific oral health strategies aimed at this population is urgent.
Background and objectives: This study aimed to identify the relationship between prevention measures and protective barriers in dental practice in El Salvador and Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic ...in 2020 and 2021.Materials and methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from June 2020 to December 2021, involving 1,719 dentists divided into four groups based on location and year. A 20-question survey in Spanish was utilized and validated with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.84.Results: The use of phone triage (OR = 1.3), thermometers (OR = 1.4), physical distancing (OR = 1.7), and face shields (OR = 2.6) was significantly associated with dental practice in both countries during the pandemic.Conclusions: During 2020 and 2021, dental care in El Salvador and Mexico was significantly linked to COVID-19 preventive measures. Phone triage, thermometers, distancing, and face shields positively correlated with dental services. National health agencies should promote the use of minimum preventive measures in dental care, preparing for potential reinfections or new pandemics from emerging virus variants.
Background and aims
People who inject drugs (PWID) are at risk for adverse outcomes across multiple dimensions. While evidence‐based interventions are available, services are often fragmented and ...difficult to access. We measured the effectiveness of an integrated care van (ICV) that offered services for PWID.
Design, setting and participants
This was a cluster‐randomized trial, which took place in Baltimore, MD, USA. Prior to randomization, we used a research van to recruit PWID cohorts from 12 Baltimore neighborhoods (sites), currently served by the city's mobile needle exchange program.
Intervention and comparator
We randomized sites to receive weekly visits from the ICV (n = 6) or to usual services (n = 6) for 14 months. The ICV offered case management; buprenorphine/naloxone; screening for HIV, hepatitis C virus and sexually transmitted infections; HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis; and wound care.
Measurements
The primary outcome was a composite harm mitigation score that captured access to evidence‐based services, risk behaviors and adverse health events (range = 0−15, with higher numbers indicating worse status). We evaluated effectiveness by comparing changes in the composite score at 7 months versus baseline in the two study arms.
Findings
We enrolled 720 cohort participants across the study sites (60 per site) between June 2018 and August 2019: 38.3% women, 72.6% black and 85.1% urine drug test positive for fentanyl. Over a median of 10.4 months, the ICV provided services to 734 unique clients (who may or may not have been cohort participants) across the six intervention sites, including HIV/hepatitis C virus testing in 577 (78.6%) and buprenorphine/naloxone initiation in 540 (74%). However, only 52 (7.2%) of cohort participants received services on the ICV. The average composite score decreased at 7 months relative to baseline, with no significant difference in the change between ICV and usual services (difference in differences: −0.31; 95% confidence interval: −0.70, 0.08; P = 0.13).
Conclusions
This cluster‐randomized trial in Baltimore, MD, USA, found no evidence that weekly neighborhood visits from a mobile health van providing injection‐drug‐focused services improved access to services and outcomes among people who injected drugs in the neighborhood, relative to usual services. The van successfully served large numbers of clients but unexpectedly low use of the van by cohort participants limited the ability to detect meaningful differences.
Resumen Objetivo: Comparar la prevalencia de caries dental y necesidades de tratamiento según criterios International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) y CPO-D, en niños de 7-8 años de ...Centros Escolares públicos rurales pertenecientes a 16 municipios de El Salvador. Materiales y métodos: El diseño corresponde a una investigación epidemiológica descriptiva transversal realizada a partir de las historias clínicas de 420 escolares de 7 - 8 años de zonas rurales de El Salvador; el diagnóstico de caries se estableció con base en criterios ICDAS. Las variables analizadas fueron: prevalencia de caries y necesidades de tratamientos. El CPO-D/ceo-d se estableció excluyendo las fases precavitacionales de la enfermedad, se empleó T de Student para probar las diferencias de las medias entre índices y la Prueba de Levene para evaluar la igualdad de las varianzas. La significación estadística fue fijada en p <0,05. Resultados: Según ICDAS, cada niño presentó un promedio de 9.52 dientes afectados por caries y 6.24 según CPO. La diferencia encontrada entre índices es significativa en dientes permanentes y en primarios (p<0,05). Los diagnósticos según criterios ICDAS, generaron 4,269 necesidades de tratamientos curativos y 4,475 preventivos; mientras que con CPO, 2,997 tratamientos curativos y ningún preventivo. Conclusiones: ICDAS reflejó una mayor afectación por caries al considerar los estadios precavitacionales; por tanto, permite establecer una diversidad de tratamientos preventivos y de limitación del daño, que, en su mayoría, no es posible indicar con CPO.
Edentulism is the partial or total loss of teeth, it is irreversible and disabling due to its sequelae in the masticatory, phonetic and aesthetic function that affect the quality of ...life.INTRODUCTIONEdentulism is the partial or total loss of teeth, it is irreversible and disabling due to its sequelae in the masticatory, phonetic and aesthetic function that affect the quality of life.To establish the impact of edentulism and sociodemographic factors on the quality of life of the Salvadoran population.OBJECTIVETo establish the impact of edentulism and sociodemographic factors on the quality of life of the Salvadoran population.Secondary cross-sectional analysis of data in 3322 users of the Public Health System of El Salvador, aged 15 to > 60 years. The variables under study were sociodemographic, edentulismo and quality of life. Edentulism was determined by clinical examination using the Oral Impact on Daily Performance scale. The statistical analysis was performed using χ2, OR, multiple regression analysis and set the significance threshold at p < 0.05.MATERIALS AND METHODSSecondary cross-sectional analysis of data in 3322 users of the Public Health System of El Salvador, aged 15 to > 60 years. The variables under study were sociodemographic, edentulismo and quality of life. Edentulism was determined by clinical examination using the Oral Impact on Daily Performance scale. The statistical analysis was performed using χ2, OR, multiple regression analysis and set the significance threshold at p < 0.05.Partial edentulism in the upper jaw was present in 68.24% people, partial edentulism in the lower jaw was present in 72.42% people and complete edentulism was observed in 2.02% people. There were significant sex differences and a relationship between sex and quality of life (p < 0.004); the self-perception of severe/very severe impacts was greater in women. People without education or with primary or secondary education only were the most affected (p < 0.05). Tooth loss increases with age, affecting quality of life in a severe/very severe manner. Complete edentulism had greater impacts on quality of life in terms of eating (25.64%), speaking (21.15%), and socializing/enjoying contact with people (10.90%). A severe/very severe impact on quality of life of teeth lost was reported mainly by those over 60 years of age, with an average of 11 missing posterior teeth, 6 missing anterior teeth and 13 missing teeth per patient. Those missing up to 6 anterior teeth were times more likely to perceive severe/very severe impacts on quality of life than those without any missing teeth (OR:5.788). Edentulism affected the quality of life of those examined, especially the loss of upper anterior teeth.RESULTSPartial edentulism in the upper jaw was present in 68.24% people, partial edentulism in the lower jaw was present in 72.42% people and complete edentulism was observed in 2.02% people. There were significant sex differences and a relationship between sex and quality of life (p < 0.004); the self-perception of severe/very severe impacts was greater in women. People without education or with primary or secondary education only were the most affected (p < 0.05). Tooth loss increases with age, affecting quality of life in a severe/very severe manner. Complete edentulism had greater impacts on quality of life in terms of eating (25.64%), speaking (21.15%), and socializing/enjoying contact with people (10.90%). A severe/very severe impact on quality of life of teeth lost was reported mainly by those over 60 years of age, with an average of 11 missing posterior teeth, 6 missing anterior teeth and 13 missing teeth per patient. Those missing up to 6 anterior teeth were times more likely to perceive severe/very severe impacts on quality of life than those without any missing teeth (OR:5.788). Edentulism affected the quality of life of those examined, especially the loss of upper anterior teeth.
Objective: To compare the prevalence of dental cavity and treatment needs according to International Cavity Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) and DMF, in 7-8 years old children of rural public ...school centers belonging to 16 municipal towns of El Salvador.
Materials and methods: The design corresponds to a transversal descriptive epidemiological investigation made from clinical histories of 7-8 year-old schoolchildren in rural areas of El Salvador; the diagnosis of dental cavities was established based on ICDAS criteria. The variables analyzed were: caries prevalence and treatment needs. The DMF-T/ dmf-t was established, excluding the precavitation phases of the disease, Student's T was used to test the differences of the means between indexes and the Levene test to evaluate the equality of the variances. The statistical significance was set at p <0.05.
Results: According to ICDAS, each child presented an average of 9.52 teeth affected by caries and, according to DMF, 6.24. The difference found between indexes is significant in permanent teeth and in primary teeth (p<0,05). Diagnoses according to ICDAS criteria, generated 4269 needs for curative treatments and 4475 preventive ones; while with DMF, 2997 curative treatments and no preventive ones.
Conclusions: ICDAS reflected a higher affectation by dental cavities when considering the precavitation stages; therefore, it allows establishing a diversity of preventive treatments and damage limitation; which, mostly, it is not possible to indicate with DMF.
Objectif: Comparer la prévalence des caries dentaires et des besoins de soins selon les critères du International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) et du CAO-D, chez les enfants de 7 à 8 ans de centres scolaires publiques ruraux de 16 municipalités du Salvador.
Matériels et méthodes: L’étude est épidémiologique, transversale et descriptive. Elle a été réalisée à partir de l’histoire clinique de 420 écoliers de 7 à 8 ans, de zones rurales du Salvador. Le diagnostic de caries a été établi sur la base des critères ICDAS. Les variables analysées sont la prévalence de caries et les besoins de soins. Le CAO-D / ceo-d a été établi en excluant les stades pré-cavitaires de la maladie. Le test de Student a été utilisé pour comparer les moyennes obtenues pour les indices et le test de Levene pour évaluer l'égalité des variances. La signification statistique a été fixée à p <0,05.
Résultats: Selon l'ICDAS, chaque enfant présentait en moyenne 9,52 dents cariées; et selon le CAO 6,24. La différence entre les indices est significative pour les dents permanentes et les primaires (p <0,05). Les diagnostics selon les critères ICDAS, ont permis d’identifier 4269 besoins de soins curatifs et 4475 préventifs; avec le CAO, 2997 soins curatifs et aucun soins préventif.
Conclusions: L'ICDAS a permis de détecter plus d’affectations par caries en raison de sa prise en compte des stades pré-cavitaires; il permet donc d'établir une grande diversité de soins préventifs pour limiter les dommages, ce qui est généralement impossible avec le CAO.
Objetivo: Comparar a prevalência de cáries dentárias e necessidade de tratamento de acordo com os critérios do International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) e da CPO, em crianças de 7 a 8 anos de escolas públicas em áreas rurais pertencentes a 16 municípios de El Salvador.
Materiais e métodos: O projeto corresponde a uma investigação epidemiológica descritiva transversal, realizada a partir da história clínicas de 420 alunos de 7 a 8 anos de áreas rurais de El Salvador. O diagnóstico de cárie foi estabelecido com base nos critérios do ICDAS. As variáveis analisadas foram: a prevalência de cárie e a necessidade de tratamento. O CPO-D/ceo-d foi estabelecido excluindo as fases pré-cavitacionais da doença. Utilizou-se o teste t de student para comparar as médias dos índices e o teste de levene teste de Levene para a igualdade de variâncias. A significância estatística foi definida em p <0,05.
Resultados: De acordo com o ICDAS, cada criança apresentou em média de 9,52 dentes afetados por cáries e 6,24 de acordo com CPO. A diferença encontrada entre os índices é significativa nos dentes definitivos e nos primeiros dentes (p<0,05). Os diagnósticos, de acordo com os critérios do ICDAS, criaram 4269 necessidades para tratamentos curativos e 4475 preventivos; mas com os de CPO, apenas 2997 tratamentos curativos e nenhum preventivo.
Conclusões: O ICDAS demostrou maior quantidade de dentes afetados por cárie ao considerar as etapas pré-cavitacionais; no entanto, permite estabelecer uma diversidade de tratamentos preventivos e de limitação de danos que, na maior parte das vezes, não é possível estabelecer com CPO.
Objetivo: Comparar la prevalencia de caries dental y necesidades de tratamiento según criterios International Caries Detection and Assessment System
(ICDAS) y CPO-D, en niños de 7-8 años de Centros Escolares públicos rurales pertenecientes a 16 municipios de El Salvador.
Materiales y métodos: El diseño corresponde a una investigación epidemiológica descriptiva transversal realizada a partir de las historias clínicas de
420 escolares de 7 - 8 años de zonas rurales de El Salvador; el diagnóstico de caries se estableció con base en criterios ICDAS. Las variables analizadas
fueron: prevalencia de caries y necesidades de tratamientos. El CPO-D/ceo-d se estableció excluyendo las fases precavitacionales de la enfermedad,
se empleó T de Student para probar las diferencias de las medias entre índices y la Prueba de Levene para evaluar la igualdad de las varianzas. La
significación estadística fue fijada en p
La investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar el impacto de las políticas públicas ambientales para la conservación de la Reserva Ecológica “El Ángel”, con el propósito de contrastar los principales ...componentes de las políticas públicas con la teoría de la conservación ambiental, de modo que se identificaron los actores públicos y privados, así como la ayuda que recibe la ciudadanía al declarar este espacio como área protegida. Por consiguiente, se determina que el efecto producido por las políticas públicas ambientales radica en que se integra la conciencia ambiental en la toma de decisiones del aparato gubernamental respecto al cuidado de la reserva. La investigación estuvo sujeta a la metodología cualitativa y cuantitativa, con lo cual se identificaron las políticas públicas ambientales que intervienen en la conservación. Para ello se aplicaron encuestas a la población, las cuales demostraron el desconocimiento por parte de la ciudadanía respecto a la gestión ambiental, así también se entrevistó a la entidad encargada de administrar este ecosistema natural. En tal sentido, los resultados obtenidos reflejan la limitada iniciativa por crear espacios sociales en donde la población y las autoridades articulen políticas públicas ambientales con lógica sostenible para mantener la integridad del medio ambiente. La etapa final del estudio permitió generar recomendaciones que ayudarán a minimizar, resarcir y conservar este espacio a través de la conciencia ambiental y la activa participación ciudadana en cuanto al manejo de áreas protegidas.