Abstract:
Background: There is a need for studies evaluating oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL)
of children in developing countries.
Aim: to assess the psychometric properties, prevalence and perceived causes of the child version
of oral impact on daily performance inventory (Child-OIDP) among school children in two sociodemographically
different districts of Tanzania. Socio-behavioral and clinical correlates of children's
OHRQoL were also investigated.
Method: One thousand six hundred and one children (mean age 13 yr, 60.5% girls) attending 16
(urban and rural) primary schools in Kinondoni and Temeke districts completed a survey
instrument in face to face interviews and participated in a full mouth clinical examination. The
survey instrument was designed to measure a Kiswahili translated and culturally adapted Child-
OIDP frequency score, global oral health indicators and socio-demographic factors.
Results: The Kiswahili version of the Child-OIDP inventory preserved the overall concept of the
original English version and revealed good reliability in terms of Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.77
(Kinondoni: 0.62, Temeke: 0.76). Weighted Kappa scores from a test-retest were 1.0 and 0.8 in
Kinondoni and Temeke, respectively. Validity was supported in that the OIDP scores varied
systematically and in the expected direction with self-reported oral health measures and sociobehavioral
indicators. Confirmatory factor analyses, CFA, confirmed three dimensions identified
initially by Principle Component Analysis within the OIDP item pool. A total of 28.6% of the
participants had at least one oral impact. The area specific rates for Kinondoni and Temeke were
18.5% and 45.5%. The most frequently reported impacts were problems eating and cleaning teeth,
and the most frequently reported cause of impacts were toothache, ulcer in mouth and position of
teeth.
Conclusion: This study showed that the Kiswahili version of the Child-OIDP was applicable for
use among schoolchildren in Tanzania.
