Evaluation of Oral Hygiene in Children Aged 5-16 Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the CHU-CNOS Pr Hamady TRAORE of Bamako

Introduction: Autism is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) that manifest in early childhood and vary from one individual to another. The term "spectrum" encompasses the full diversity of disorders and indicates a person's potential progression within the spectrum. The objective of our study was to assess the oral hygiene of children aged 5 to 16 years living with autism spectrum disorder at the University Hospital, National Odontostomatology Center Professor Hamady Traore of Bamako. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over a 6-month period (from January 2021 to June 2021) at the Bamako University Hospital, National Center for Odontology and Stomatology (CHU-CNOS). All autistic children in the Bamako district, aged 5 to 16 years, whose parents consented to participate in our study, were included. We collected 35 children through a self-administered questionnaire, sent to each parent accompanying their child. Results: Males were the most represented gender, with 68.60% and a ratio of 0.5. The most represented age group was 5 to 10 years, or 51.42%, with a mean age of 9.84±2.73 and a range of 5 to 15 years. Children complained of toothache in 53.3% of cases. Participants experienced tantrums in 11.42% of cases. Children brushed their teeth alone without any assistance in 62.86% of cases. Conclusion: This study has allowed us to note structural and economic inadequacies in the care of children living with autism spectrum disorder. It is essential to develop pediatric health sectors to properly respond to the diverse health needs of this category of children in general and the needs for oral care in particular.