Abstract

CORDOBA URBANO, Doris Lucia; PORTILLA CABRERA, María Isabel  and  ARTEAGA CAIZA, Guillermo. INTERNAL FAMILY DYNAMICS AND ORAL HYGIENE OF PEOPLE WITH MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. Hacia promoc. Salud [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.2, pp.81-93. ISSN 0121-7577.

Objectives: the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between internal family dynamics and oral hygiene of people with mild intellectual disabilities, in students from the Institute of Special Education PROFESA, San Juan de Pasto, Colombia, between June 2009 and March 2010. Material and Method: a descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out in two stages: the first one examined 33 people with mild intellectual disability, 7-28 years old and the Silness and Löe bacterial plaque index was measured to determine the status of oral hygiene. The second stage assessed the internal family dynamics of the student group, with the APGAR Family instrument. The statistical analysis used central tendency measures, Chi square tests, Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: 54.5% are functional families and 12.1% showed mild dysfunction. The average plaque index was 1,362 (SD=0.47), equivalent to regular oral hygiene. The higher scores were found in rebuilt and extended families (family composition) and in elders (family age.) The average indexes of students from families with moderate dysfunction were higher (1.66) than those in functional families (1.37), although no statistical significance was found (p = 0.41). Conclusions: the internal family dynamics of people with mild intellectual disabilities is, in greater proportion, functional and mild dysfunctional. Oral hygiene is poor. Although there was no significant relationship, it is relevant to replicate this type of study in an increasing vulnerable population which presents difficulties in maintaining adequate oral hygiene.

Keywords : Family; family relations; oral hygiene; odontology for disabled people; mental retardation.

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