Factores Familiares asociados a la presencia de Caries Dental en Ni？os Escolares de Cartagena, Colombia

objective: to identify sociodemographic and family factors and their association with the prevalence of caries in children attending the john f. kennedy school in cartagena de indias. design: cross sectional study. setting: cartagena de indias, colombia. participants: 243 students randomly selected by stratified sampling. main measurements: sociodemographic and family factors (marital relationship, education and role of parents, socioeconomic status and family structure and function using the family apgar) and prevalence of caries (cop-d index and ceo-d). the data were analyzed based on proportions and odds ratio using the stata 10.0 programme results: the prevalence of caries was 51% (95% ci: 44-57), higher in females (70%; p=0.02). the role of the father as educator of his children was the only significant factor (or: 0.40; 95% ci: 0.18 to 0.86; p <0.01) related to the prevalence of caries. conclusions: in addition to being traditionally an economic provider, the new role of the father as educator of his children can have a positive effect on reducing dental caries. fathers should be actively involved in the promotion and prevention activities in oral health.