Molar incisor hypomineralisation: Possible aetiological factors in children from urban and rural areas

Aim: To analyse factors potentially associated with molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) development. METHODS: A population-based study was carried out with 903 children aged from 6-12 years old, born and residing in rural and urban areas of the town of Botelhos, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Their mothers completed a structured medical history questionnaire, from pregnancy to the child's 3rd year of life. Two examiners evaluated children for MIH according to criteria suggested by the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry. Descriptive analyses of the data and odds ratios (OR) with 95% test-based confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Chisquare test was used to evaluate the differences between groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of MIH in children from rural area (RA) was significantly higher than those from the urban area (UA) (24.9% versus 17.8%, p= 0.01). In urban children, neither significant associations with MIH nor medical problems were found. In rural children, however, MIH was significantly more common among those whose mothers had experienced medical problems during pregnancy (OR=2.11; 1.01-4.37 CI 95%; p=0.04), who had throat infections (OR=2.93; 1.47-5.87 CI 95%; p=0.01), who had high fever (OR=1.91; 1.07-3.39 CI 95%; p=0.02), and who had used amoxicillin associated with other antibiotics (OR=1.92; 1.02-3.62 CI 95%; p=0.04) during the first 3 years of life. CONCLUSION: This study suggests a link between MIH and health problems during pregnancy, as well as environmental factors.

Number Processing and Calculation in Brazilian Children Aged 7-12 Years

Numerical cognition is based on two components - number processing and calculation. Its development is influenced by biological, cognitive, educational, and cultural factors. The objectives of the present study were to: i) assess number processing and calculation in Brazilian children aged 7-12 years from public schools using the Zareki-R (Battery of neuropsychological tests for number processing and calculation in children, Revised; von Aster & Dellatolas, 2006) in order to obtain normative data for Portuguese speakers; ii) identify how environment, age, and gender influences the development of these mathematical skills; iii) investigate the construct validity of the Zareki-R by the contrast with the Arithmetic subtest of WISC-III. The sample included 172 children, both genders, divided in two groups: urban (N= 119) and rural (N= 53) assessed by the Zareki-R. Rural children presented lower scores in one aspect of number processing; children aged 7-8 years demonstrated an inferior global score than older; boys presented a superior performance in both number processing and calculation. Construct validity of Zareki-R was demonstrated by high to moderate correlations with Arithmetic subtest of WISC-III. The Zareki-R therefore is a suitable instrument to assess the development of mathematical skills, which is influenced by factors such as environment, age, and gender.

Molar incisor hypomineralization: prevalence, severity and clinical consequences in Brazilian children

Background.The prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) varies considerably around the world; however, few studies have examined MIH in South American countries.Objective.To evaluate the prevalence, severity, and clinical consequences of MIH in Brazilian children residing in rural and urban areas of the municipality of Botelhos, Minas Gerais, Brazil.Methods.Children aged 6 to 12 years (n = 918) with all four-first permanent molars erupted had these teeth evaluated according to the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria. The examinations were conducted by two previously trained examiners, and the dental impact caused by MIH was evaluated with the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index (WHO).Results.Molar incisor hypomineralization was present in 19.8% of the 918 children, with a higher prevalence in rural areas. The majority of the defects presented were demarcated opacities without post-eruptive structural loss, which has been considered as mild defects. Children with MIH had higher DMFT values.Conclusion.Despite the high prevalence of MIH, the severity of the defects was mild. The results indicate a positive association between MIH and the presence of dental caries.

Cross-cultural differences for three visual memory tasks in Brazilian children

Norms for three visual memory tasks, including Corsi's block tapping test and the BEM 144 complex figures and visual recognition, were developed for neuropsychological assessment in Brazilian children. The tasks were measured in 127 children ages 7 to 10 years from rural and urban areas of the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Analysis indicated age-related but not sex-related differences. A cross-cultural effect was observed in relation to copying and recall of Complex pictures. Different performances between rural and urban children were noted. © Perceptual and Motor Skills 2005.

Urinary fluoride excretion in children exposed to fluoride toothpaste and to different water fluoride levels in a tropical area of Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the urinary fluoride excretion of 2- to 7-year-old children exposed to different water fluoride concentrations in the city of Catolé do Rocha, PB, Brazil. Forty-two children were allocated to 3 groups according to the concentration of fluoride in the water: G1 (n=10; 0.5-1.0 ppm F), G2 (n=17; 1.1-1.5 ppm F) and G3 (n= 15; >1.51 ppm F). The study was carried out in two 1-week phases with 1-month interval between the moments of data collection: in the first phase, the children used a fluoride toothpaste (FT) (1,510 ppm F) for 1 week, whereas in the second phase a non-fluoride toothpaste (NFT) was used. The urine was collected in a 24-h period in each week-phase according to Marthaler's protocol. The urinary fluoride excretion data expressed as mean (SD) in ì g/24 h were: G1-FT= 452.9 (290.2); G1-NFT= 435.1 (187.0); G2-FT= 451.4 (224.0); G2-NFT= 430.3 (352.5); G3-FT=592.3 (390.5); and G3-NFT=623.6 (408.7). There was no statistically significant difference between the water fluoride groups, and regardless of the week phase (ANOVA, p>0.05). The use of fluoride toothpaste (1,510 ppmF) did not promote an increase in urinary fluoride excretion. There was a trend, though not significant, as to the increase of urine fluoride concentration in relation to fluoride concentrations in the water. The excretion values suggest that some children are under risk to develop dental fluorosis and information about the appropriate use of fluoride is necessary in this area.

O brincar como experiência: um estudo com crianças de primeira série de uma escola pública rural

Pós-graduação em Educação - IBRC

Jovens do assentamento Ribeirão Bonito: entre a recusa da profissão de agricultor e a afirmação do modo de vida rural?

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Influência do ambiente rural e urbano no desenvolvimento funcional de crianças de até seis anos de idade

The influence of the environment on psychomotor development of children is evidenced in many studies. Many factors can threaten children’s development and hinder the children with regard to functional activities. Objective: The objective of this research was to investigate the possible effects of urban and rural environment on the functional performance of children under six years old. Methods: The study included 30 children divided into two groups, one group consisted of 15 children of both genres with a mean age of 44.13 ± 20.97 months, residing in urban area and another for 15 children, both sexes with a mean age of 44.33 ± 20.91 months, residing in rural areas. All were tested using functional Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), which is based on an evaluation trial, conducted through structured interviews with those responsible for the child. This test outlines the functional profi le of children in three performance areas: self-care, mobility and social function, evaluated in three parts (functional skills, caregiver assistance and modifi cations to the environment). In this study we used the parts I (funcional skills) and II (caregiver assistance) in three areas: self-care, mobility and social function. The collected data were analyzed by means of the Mann - Whitney test, with the level of signifi cance at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The results show no signifi cant difference in the areas of self-care and mobility, both in relation to functional abilities when the caregiver assistance. In the area of social function, there was a lower performance of children living in rural areas, in functional abilities (p = 0.027) and caregiver assistance (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Based on this information, we can conclude that children who live in rural areas have a worse development of the social functions of children living in urban areas.

Educação no campo e educação rural: distinção necessária para compreensão da realidade geográfica

The work’s objective is to point out the difference between rural / urban and country side / city, drawing on the historical process of formation of the terms and analyzing the current dichotomous and continuous, to clarify the concepts of education in rural and rural education, in an attempt to differentiate these types of education in accordance with the schools. Also works with the different conceptions of children, adolescents and youth of the rural that are mostly students from schools in the 1st and 2nd grade. On empirical evidences, we try to adapt the concepts studied in the School Municipal Agricultural Engenheiro Rubens Foot Guimarães, Rio Claro, SP

Hipomineralização molar-incisivo em escolares da rede municipalde ensino da área urbana e rural de Manaus-AM

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)