Percepção e práticas de cuidadores de lares de infância e juventude sobre saúde bucal no município de Belém, Brasil

Caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and oral health practices at long-term care facilities in KwaZulu-Natal

“…Caregivers with tertiary-level education exhibited better oral health knowledge than caregivers with secondary-level education. This finding concurs with previous studies conducted by Ashkanani and Al-Sane ( 2013 ) and Miranda et al ( 2020 ), which showed that caregivers with a higher educational level demonstrated better oral health knowledge when compared with participants with lower educational levels. Abullais et al ( 2020 ) found that caregivers who had a higher level of education exhibited more positive attitudes and a greater knowledge of oral health.…”

“…Institutionalised residents have special oral health needs and requirements, but their oral health remains a neglected aspect of health care (Shah et al 2018 ). The frail and elderly, young children and individuals with physical and learning disabilities residing at long-term care facilities constitute a marginalised and vulnerable population (Abullais et al 2020 ; Miranda et al 2020 ; Shah et al 2018 ; Stancic et al 2016 ). Oral disease, especially among institutionalised residents, is rife and therefore maintenance of their oral health is important in ensuring ‘good quality of life and overall well-being’ (Gil-Montoya et al 2015 ; Shah et al 2018 ).…”

“…Oral disease, especially among institutionalised residents, is rife and therefore maintenance of their oral health is important in ensuring ‘good quality of life and overall well-being’ (Gil-Montoya et al 2015 ; Shah et al 2018 ). However, physical and mental limitations, emotional stress and chronic illness have a significant impact on their ability to perform adequate oral hygiene activities for themselves, resulting in unmet health needs (Abullais et al 2020 ; Miranda et al 2020 ; Stancic et al 2016 ). A Serbian study found that the institutionalised elderly population were susceptible to dental caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss, especially among dependent and cognitively impaired residents (Stancic et al 2016 ).…”

“…Caregivers thus play a vital role in providing preventive and promotional oral health care to residents by assisting and encouraging them to take better care of their oral hygiene (Miranda et al 2020 ). Qualified nurses of long-term care facilities oversee the planning and evaluation of oral care; however, daily oral health care activities are predominantly performed by caregivers with varying levels of knowledge (Shah et al 2018 ).…”

Oral healthcare provision at long-term care facilities in eThekwini: Perspectives of coordinators

“…Numerous international studies have indicated that oral health remains a neglected aspect of healthcare within long-term care facilities. 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 The prevalence of oral disease among the institutionalised elderly is high. 13 Common oral conditions experienced by the elderly include xerostomia, dental caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss, making it significantly difficult to masticate food, often resulting in nutritional deficiencies and leading to other systemic diseases.…”