Estado de salud bucodental y conocimientos asociados en el pueblo Tsáchila

Authors

Keywords:

Dental caries, traditional practices, indigenous communities, ancestral populations

Abstract

This study sought to quantify the prevalence of caries and periodontal disease and describe the associated knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the Tsáchila community of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The research used a sequential mixed-methods methodology that combined a cross-sectional component with 180 participants and a subsequent qualitative approach. Data collection involved standardized clinical examinations and a culturally adapted questionnaire validated by the research team. The results showed that the prevalence of caries in permanent teeth reached 92.6%, with a DMFT index of 7.8, dominated by the decayed component. In children, the figure was slightly lower. Oral hygiene was poor in most of the population, mainly linked to the use of plant branches, a method that proved to be less effective in controlling bacterial plaque. A predominantly reactive attitude towards dental care was identified, and regular consumption of chicha was associated with a higher incidence of caries in primary teeth. It was demonstrated that it is essential to propose improvements based on a dialogue of knowledge, seeking complementarity between traditional care and modern preventive practices in order to improve these health conditions in the long term.

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References

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Published

2025-10-01

How to Cite

Vera-Veloz, A. F., Mocha-Noboa, E. B., & Buitrón-Recalde, M. del R. (2025). Estado de salud bucodental y conocimientos asociados en el pueblo Tsáchila. Revista UGC, 3(S3), 363–368. Retrieved from https://universidadugc.edu.mx/ojs/index.php/rugc/article/view/259

Issue

Vol. 3 No. S3 (2025): Retos, innovaciones y perspectivas multidisciplinarias en investigación y práctica universitaria (Octubre)

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Artículos

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Copyright (c) 2025 Amalia Fernanda Vera-Veloz, Erika Beatriz Mocha-Noboa, Marianela del Rocío Buitrón-Recalde

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