Gloria Escobar-Paucar

Experiencia de caries dental en niños de 1- 5 años de bajos ingresos. Medellín. Colombia

Introduction and Objective: Tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic disease in children and because of its chronic nature progresses with age unless efforts are made to control its progression. The purpose was identify the magnitude and severity of dental caries in 1-5 year children in Moravia, a low income population neighborhood in the city of Medellin. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 162 children in a low income population. A calibrated (Kappa 0.73) examiner registered caries lesions, on previously cleaned and dried teeth, based on Pitts and Fyffe criteria (D1 to D4). Prevalence and caries experience were estimated; as well as def-t and def-s indexes, and their distribution by components. Results: Caries prevalence and experience of caries reached the same values, corresponding to 77.8%, the def-t was 5.11 ± 5.0 and the def-s was 7.6 ± 11.3, with significant differences by age (Kruskal Wallis test) and predominance of caries component. In 5 year old children, 73% have caries experience and the dmf-t was 5.94 ± 6.3. Conclusion: Examined population had higher caries levels, than other groups within the city, which reflects the polarization of dental caries, deprivation and living conditions. Key words: Dental caries, Preschool children, Dental health, Primary

Representaciones sociales del proceso salud-enfermedad bucal en madres gestantes de una población urbana: Medellín, Colombia

OBJECTIVE: To understand social representations of oral health-disease among pregnant mothers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted for which 28 pregnant adult women were interviewed who attended a prenatal program at a health institution in the city of Medellin, Colombia between 2006 and 2007. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and analyses were performed using open, axial and selective coding. RESULTS: Mothers would like to provide their children good oral health and consider it their responsibility; associated guilt is also experienced. To fulfill this responsibility, mothers request support from health personnel, which at times does not meet their needs and expectations. CONCLUSIONS: Professionals are needed who, beginning with their education, integrate the social dimension with technical-scientific knowledge, who recognize the coexistence of different rationalities in the educational setting and put them into perspective, venturing into educational proposals that break with paradigms in order to achieve the support required, while respecting the autonomy of the mothers without blaming them.

La praxis como fundamento de una educación para la salud alternativa: estudio de investigación-acción en el Programa de Crecimiento y Desarrollo en Medellín, Colombia

La propuesta fue reflexionar sobre la educacion problematizadora en un ambiente de educacion para la salud y contribuir a su desarrollo teorico, en un proceso de investigacion-accion, teniendo como objeto el programa de crecimiento y desarrollo en Medellin. El estudio incluyo el uso de la observacion participante del programa de desarrollo de los ninos y analisis de la informacion centrada en un proceso reflexivo permanente. Los educadores-investigadores analizaron sus practicas pedagogicas, intentando transformar la educacion en salud en una practica mas dialogica y productiva. Se encontraron dificultades para cambiar la educacion tradicional en el ambito de los servicios de salud. Se evidencio la importancia de la reflexion en la transformacion de la practica. El educando como sujeto, con experiencias y condiciones particulares contribuyo a la comprension de una educacion centrada en el ser humano. Se resalto la necesidad de considerar los adultos como agentes centrales y la educacion infantil como eje del programa.

Salud bucal: representaciones sociales en madres gestantes de una población urbana. Medellín, Colombia

Based on the theory of social representations, a qualitative investigation was conducted in order to assess social representations in oral heath in pregnant mothers living in an urban environment. Twenty-eight pregnant adult women attending a prenatal program at a health institution in the city of Medellin, Colombia, were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed; analysis was performed through open, axial and selective coding, in line with grounded theory. Findings revealed that although pregnant mothers are not greatly concerned about oral health after birth and in early childhood, it increases in importance during growth and development of the child when, besides chewing and feeding aspects, it acquires a socially important role. Analysis revealed how social representations anchored in tradition, with new elements from health professional discourses as well as mass media influences coexist in mothers in an urban environment. These include the close relationship between oral health and teeth, health linked to healthy practices as well as recourse to health services and oral health as a social advantage, related to esthetic aspects.