Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods Study

Objective: Toidentify the prevalence and factors associated with dental fluorosis (DF) among schoolchildren and to understand parent/guardian perception and knowledge concerning this condition. Methods: In this mixed methods study, researchers conducted clinical e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bruno Gutiérrez-Quiceno, Yeimy Tatiana Ortega-Burbano, Angye Paola Salcedo-Muñoz, Rafaela Reis da Silva, Johana Alejandra Moreno-Drada
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2025-06-01
Series:Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/fnsp/article/view/358797
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849431126381166592
author Bruno Gutiérrez-Quiceno
Yeimy Tatiana Ortega-Burbano
Angye Paola Salcedo-Muñoz
Rafaela Reis da Silva
Johana Alejandra Moreno-Drada
author_facet Bruno Gutiérrez-Quiceno
Yeimy Tatiana Ortega-Burbano
Angye Paola Salcedo-Muñoz
Rafaela Reis da Silva
Johana Alejandra Moreno-Drada
author_sort Bruno Gutiérrez-Quiceno
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Toidentify the prevalence and factors associated with dental fluorosis (DF) among schoolchildren and to understand parent/guardian perception and knowledge concerning this condition. Methods: In this mixed methods study, researchers conducted clinical examinations on schoolchildren, as well as surveys and semi-structured interviews with parents/guardians in Nariño, Colombia, during 2023. The researchers analyzed data using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis (quantitative), with the dependent variable fluorosis measured using Dean’s Index. Data was categorized according to content analysis (qualitative). The analysis of narratives and triangulation of the findings followed principles of grounded theory. Results: Using Dean’s index, the adjusted model found that prevalence of fluorosis increased with age among individuals with “very mild” versus “mild” levels (aOR = 1.85; 95%CI = 1.24-2.75) or in men (aOR = 3.08; 95% CI = 1.06-8.90) and was lower in those individuals who lived in urban areas (aOR = 0.21 95%; CI = 0.06-0.71) or among subjects who had a dental checkup three or more times per year (aOR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.02-0.83). Prevalence also increased with age in individuals with very mild versus moderate levels (aOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.10-4.42) or in those whose parents reported knowing about fluorosis (aOR = 35.58; 95% CI = 3.50-361.14) and was lower in individuals who consumed the most popular salt brand in the area (aOR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.002-0.90). Ten individuals participated in the semi-structured interview; a lack of knowledge was observed, and participants perceived DF as a natural or teeth-strengthening process. Through triangulation, age was identified as a factor interacting with fluorosis. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that frequency of dental checkups, age, sex, place of residence, parent/guardian knowledge and perception, and diet were associated with presence of DF.
format Article
id doaj-art-70646a10a32d4e93a59e77ca8e554dbf
institution Kabale University
issn 0120-386X
language Spanish
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Universidad de Antioquia
record_format Article
series Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública
spelling doaj-art-70646a10a32d4e93a59e77ca8e554dbf2025-08-20T03:27:44ZspaUniversidad de AntioquiaRevista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública0120-386X2025-06-0143117https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rfnsp.e358797Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods StudyBruno Gutiérrez-Quiceno0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8949-7647Yeimy Tatiana Ortega-Burbano1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4722-9481Angye Paola Salcedo-Muñoz2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9705-9935Rafaela Reis da Silva3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6435-9942Johana Alejandra Moreno-Drada4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1797-6379Universidad del ValleUniversidad del ValleUniversidad del ValleUniversidad Federal de Minas GeraisUniversidad del ValleObjective: Toidentify the prevalence and factors associated with dental fluorosis (DF) among schoolchildren and to understand parent/guardian perception and knowledge concerning this condition. Methods: In this mixed methods study, researchers conducted clinical examinations on schoolchildren, as well as surveys and semi-structured interviews with parents/guardians in Nariño, Colombia, during 2023. The researchers analyzed data using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis (quantitative), with the dependent variable fluorosis measured using Dean’s Index. Data was categorized according to content analysis (qualitative). The analysis of narratives and triangulation of the findings followed principles of grounded theory. Results: Using Dean’s index, the adjusted model found that prevalence of fluorosis increased with age among individuals with “very mild” versus “mild” levels (aOR = 1.85; 95%CI = 1.24-2.75) or in men (aOR = 3.08; 95% CI = 1.06-8.90) and was lower in those individuals who lived in urban areas (aOR = 0.21 95%; CI = 0.06-0.71) or among subjects who had a dental checkup three or more times per year (aOR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.02-0.83). Prevalence also increased with age in individuals with very mild versus moderate levels (aOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.10-4.42) or in those whose parents reported knowing about fluorosis (aOR = 35.58; 95% CI = 3.50-361.14) and was lower in individuals who consumed the most popular salt brand in the area (aOR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.002-0.90). Ten individuals participated in the semi-structured interview; a lack of knowledge was observed, and participants perceived DF as a natural or teeth-strengthening process. Through triangulation, age was identified as a factor interacting with fluorosis. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that frequency of dental checkups, age, sex, place of residence, parent/guardian knowledge and perception, and diet were associated with presence of DF.https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/fnsp/article/view/358797health educationdental fluorosisnutritionoral healthchildren's health
spellingShingle Bruno Gutiérrez-Quiceno
Yeimy Tatiana Ortega-Burbano
Angye Paola Salcedo-Muñoz
Rafaela Reis da Silva
Johana Alejandra Moreno-Drada
Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods Study
Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública
health education
dental fluorosis
nutrition
oral health
children's health
title Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods Study
title_full Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods Study
title_fullStr Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods Study
title_full_unstemmed Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods Study
title_short Dental fluorosis and associated factors among Colombian schoolchildren: A Mixed Methods Study
title_sort dental fluorosis and associated factors among colombian schoolchildren a mixed methods study
topic health education
dental fluorosis
nutrition
oral health
children's health
url https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/fnsp/article/view/358797
work_keys_str_mv AT brunogutierrezquiceno dentalfluorosisandassociatedfactorsamongcolombianschoolchildrenamixedmethodsstudy
AT yeimytatianaortegaburbano dentalfluorosisandassociatedfactorsamongcolombianschoolchildrenamixedmethodsstudy
AT angyepaolasalcedomunoz dentalfluorosisandassociatedfactorsamongcolombianschoolchildrenamixedmethodsstudy
AT rafaelareisdasilva dentalfluorosisandassociatedfactorsamongcolombianschoolchildrenamixedmethodsstudy
AT johanaalejandramorenodrada dentalfluorosisandassociatedfactorsamongcolombianschoolchildrenamixedmethodsstudy