Periodontal health status of school children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

A national oral health survey of school children was conducted in October through November 1991. The objective was to determine the periodontal status of school children in St. Vincent and The Grenadines (SVG), the pattern and severity of periodontal disease, estimate treatment needs and provide information for health planners. The study had a cross-sectional design, and 1646 schoolchildren representing all school districts were selected via multistage, systematic sampling. Examinations were conducted by three examiners using CPITN probe. Periodontal indicators and treatment needs were determined using the CPITN index. Calculus was the most prevalent condition with values ranging from 26 to 83 percent, bleeding was the least prevalent condition, while children with healthy indicator were intermediate in prevalence. Subjects with healthy indicators ranged from a low of 12 percent among 15-19 year olds, to a high of 51 percent among seven-year-olds. The mean number of healthy sextants varied from three to five, and mean number of sextants with bleeding or calculus varied from one to three. Oral hygiene instruction (OHI) was the most common treatment need, ranging from 49 to 88 percent. The need for prophylaxis was associated with increase in age, with the highest prophylaxis treatment needs of 83 percent, among 15-19 year olds. No significant differences were observed in periodontal status between gender, and also between urban and rural children. A high prevalence of calculus and bleeding was observed among SVG school children. Study recommends initiation of primary prevention programs in form of health promotion and health education.