Riesgo cariogénico en niños de 2 y 4 años ingresados al programa cero en la Región Metropolitana de Chile, años 2017 al 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Caries disease has increased its prevalence in children worldwide and locally, which is why the Ministry of Health of Chile has developed and implemented the Zero Program, which has as its main tool the application of a guideline of cariogenic risk and habits that determine prevention and health promotion strategies in order to reduce the prevalence of cavities and the most frequent pathologies in the child population. Objective: Determine the cariogenic risk in children aged 2 and 4 years admitted to the CERO Program in the Metropolitan Region of Chile, years 2017 to 2020. Method: Ecological observational design in a population of children aged 2 and 4 years admitted to the Zero Program who present cariogenic risk in the Metropolitan Region. The data were extracted from the monthly statistical reporting system (REM) of the Chilean Ministry of Health. High and low cariogenic risk was considered in children according to sex, year of entry into the CERO Program and according to the health service of the metropolitan region. Results: The cariogenic risk was identified in children aged 2 and 4 years in the six health services of the metropolitan region, in the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. There is a trend of decreasing cariogenic risk levels over the years. 2017 to 2020 in children aged 2 and 4 years admitted to the CERO Program. Conclusions: The results show that more than half of the children aged 2 and 4 years present a high cariogenic risk in the metropolitan region, after being admitted to Program Zero during the period from 2017 to 2020. Consequently, the measures implemented They have been a valuable tool for the benefit of girls and boys from 6 months to 6 years of age in terms of oral health.