VOLUME 1 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2018 ) > List of Articles
Chandra Kumari Herath, Irosha Rukmali Perera, Primali Rukmal Jayasooriya
Keywords : Socio-demographic profile,Amelogenesis imperfecta,psychosocial impact
Citation Information : Herath CK, Perera IR, Jayasooriya PR. The Socio-demographic profile of children affected by Amelogenesis imperfecta and its impact on their families: a pilot study based on patients attending a Paedodontic clinic in Sri Lanka. J South Asian Assoc Pediatr Dent 2018; 1 (1):5-8.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3004
License: NA
Published Online: 01-06-2018
Copyright Statement: NA
Aim: The appearance of teeth is fundamental to pleasing facial aesthetics and the health and well-being of a child. Amelogenesis Imperfecta (AI) is a disorder that affects the structure and appearance of the enamel of the teeth. The present pilot study aimed to assess the socio-demographic profile of children, affected by AI and its psychosocial impact on the families, compared to their non-affected siblings as perceived by mothers. Method: Seventeen mothers with children affected by AI participated. The impact of the child’s AI status on the family was assessed using a modified translated version of Family Impact Scale (FIS) which consisted of 27- items organized into 6 dimensions, namely parental/family impact, parental emotions, family conflict, impact on child in past/present context, perceived future impact on child and financial burden. Results: Based on mothers respondents, the results revealed psychological impact as an overall score for 27 – items was 117.94 (±31.97) for affected families and the scores ranged from 62-174 which was significantly higher than the 0 score for controls. The highest median scores reported for impact of AI on child’s quality of life in past and present contexts (median score= 39.0) and for parental emotions (median score=33.0). Mothers perceived a considerable impact of AI on child’s quality of life in the future context as well (median score=21.0). Conclusion: As emerged from the findings, there was a considerable perceived psychosocial impact on families reported by mothers having children with AI compared to their non-affected siblings. Thus it is important to provide necessary psycho-social support for those mothers.