Letramento em saúde bucal e impacto familiar em cuidadores de crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the level of oral health literacy (LSB) and the factors associated with the family impact of caregivers of children and adolescents with CP. This is an analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, with the application of a sociodemographic questionnaire, family impact scale (EIF) and oral health literacy assessment instrument (BREALD-30). A total of 131 caregivers of children/adolescents undergoing rehabilitation and readaptation treatment were surveyed at a reference center in Goiânia/GO, from August to December 2021. The results showed that a low level of LSB is associated with higher levels of family impact in caregivers of children/adolescents with CP (r = -0.195, p = 0.0257). Regarding the profile of caregivers, 92.4% were female. The minimum age was 20 years, and the maximum was 63 years, with a mean age of 36 years (±8.7). In the association of sociodemographic aspects with the level of LSB, a higher score was identified in those who were married (p=0.0081), in those who claimed to have higher education (p<0.0001), in whom sometime after hospital discharge they received the diagnosis of CP (p=0.0028), in those who receive help in the daily care of the child/adolescent with CP (p=0.0050) and in those who received more than three minimum wages (p<0.0001). In the association of personal and clinical aspects with the level of LSB, it was evidenced that the highest score of LSB is in those who reported having regular difficulty in performing oral hygiene (p=0.0016). Higher score in caregivers who were not currently working (p=0.0118), in those who did not receive help with child/adolescent care (p=0.0019), in those who needed adapted transportation for the child/adolescent (p= 0.0230) and in those who stated that they did not perform family leisure activities (p<0.0001). Regarding the association of personal and clinical aspects with the level of Family Impact, a higher score was identified in the absence of daily flossing frequency (p=0.0039), in those who stated that having a child/ adolescent with CP generates a lot of impact on life (p<0.0001) and in those who reported that their child/adolescent's motor impairment was level V (p=0.0203). It is concluded that the LSB is an essential resource for the promotion of oral health and that it will help in the daily difficulties of these caregivers, who dedicate their lives to the child/adolescent with CP, contributing to a lower family impact