Prevalence and factors associated with dental caries among children and adults in selected districts in Uganda.

Annet Kutesa,Arabat Kasangaki,Isaac Okullo,Moses Nkamba,Louis Muwazi,Charles Mugisha Rwenyonyi

doi:10.4314/ahs.v15i4.33

Abstract

The aim was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dental caries among adults and children in seven districts of Uganda. Participants aged 11-13 (n=1230) and 35-44 years (n=648) were randomly selected from urban and rural areas of Gulu, Soroti, Jinja, Masaka, Kabale, Kabarole and Hoima districts. They were examined by 4 trained and calibrated dentists for dental caries using Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth index as described by World Health Organisation. Overall mean DMFT score was 0.73 for children and 4.71 for adults. Generally, there was a higher mean DMFT score in the rural (2.19) compared to urban areas (1.97). In all the districts, except Hoima, there was a higher mean DMFT score of children in rural compared to urban. In adults, similar trend was mainly registered in Masaka, Hoima and Gulu districts. Most participants (79.9%, n=1309) occasionally ate sugared snacks. Overall, 95% (n=1795) of the participants cleaned their teeth with plastic tooth brushes (71.7%) and chewing sticks (8.3%). Although the severity of dental caries was low, the disease was widespread in the study population. A high proportion of participants reported consumption of sugared snacks and drinks, which calls for oral health education.

Highlights

A decade ago, World Health Organisation (WHO)[1] published a review of global oral health status, which emphasized that despite great improvements in oral health in several countries, problems still persist
There was a significant difference in the mean Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) score of adults between the urban and rural areas in Masaka, Hoima and Gulu districts (p
About two-thirds of the participants were from the rural areas of most districts in support of the fact that majority of Ugandan communities reside in the rural areas[8] a proportional representation in the present study

Summary

Introduction

A decade ago, World Health Organisation (WHO)[1] published a review of global oral health status, which emphasized that despite great improvements in oral health in several countries, problems still persist. This is so among underprivileged populations in both developing and developed countries. Poor oral health may have a profound influence on general health, and several oral diseases such as periodontal disease and dental caries have historically been considered the most important global oral health burdens. Dental caries is still the most prevalent disease even in most

Materials and methods

Discussion

Findings

Conclusion