ASSESSMENT OF THE COHERENCE OF CAREGIVERS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE DENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Abstract

Aim:

Due to altered salivary patterns, craniofacial anomalies, and impaired manual dexterity, those with Down syndrome (DS) tend to be more prone to experience oral health issues. Caregivers’ Sense of Coherence (SOC), a psychological component influencing health, may have an impact on the child's dental health. Hence the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare caregivers’ SOC and oral health status of children with and without DS in Lucknow city.

Materials and Methods: 208 children (104 DS, 104 controls) aged 8–16 years and their caregivers participated in a cross-sectional, descriptive study. SOC was measured using Antonovsky’s SOC-13 scale, and oral health was evaluated using DMFT/dmft, PUFA/pufa, Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), malocclusion assessment, and salivary flow rate. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 21) with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

Results: Children with DS had significantly lower caries prevalence but higher plaque, gingival bleeding, malocclusion, and reduced salivary flow compared to control group (p<0.001). Caregivers of DS children showed significantly lower SOC scores (49.5) than controls (59.9). A significant positive association was identified between caregivers’ SOC and children’s oral health status.

Conclusion: Caregivers’ SOC strongly influences the oral health of children with DS. Interventions to strengthen caregiver SOC may improve both psychosocial well-being and oral health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Clinical significance: Caregivers’ Sense of Coherence (SOC) significantly influences oral health outcomes of children, with maternal SOC acting as a key resource in promoting dental well-being. Integrating the salutogenic framework into interventions may enhance parental SOC and foster healthier family environments for improved pediatric oral health.