Prevalence of Dental Caries Among Primary School Children in Ringado Local Government Area of Kano State
Chapter One
Study Objectives
Main Objective
To determine the dental caries experience and associated risk factors among Primary school going children in Ringado Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria
Specific Objectives
- To determine the prevalence of dental caries among Primary school going children in Ringado Local Government Area
- To determine dental caries experience among Primary school going children in Ringado Local Government Area
- To describe the risk factors associated with prevalence of dental caries and caries experience among pre- school going children of Ringado Local Government Area
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Globally, epidemiological studies have shown the general decline in dental caries among children, mostly in Western Europe and America (Marthaler, 2004; Downer et al., 2005; Hugoson et al., 2008). However, there is stagnation in dental caries decline among Primary school children since the end of 1980’s (Hugoson et al., 2008; Stecken-Blicks et al., 2004). The situation in developing countries especially Sub Saharan Africa is not well documented and there are scanty studies that are mostly old and cross sectional in nature (Hugoson et al., 2008). This chapter will highlight the burden and specific prevalence and associated risk factors of dental caries in global, regional and local context.
Prevalence of dental caries
The prevalence of dental caries in children is an indicator of burden of oral health status. It is the most prevalent non communicable disease worldwide (NIH, 2000). The distribution and severity varies in different countries, within the same country and regions (Petersen et al., 2005; Akpata, 2004). It is believed that dental caries is more prevalent among Asians and Latin Americans than Africans despite some statistics showing decreasing incidence of dental caries in developed countries but on increase in developing countries (Masumi et al., 2012; Hawkes, 2006).
In United States, dental caries is five times more common than Asthma (NIH, 2000). The prevalence of dental caries in Maharashtra, India was 80.9% (Shingare et al., 2012). In Sweden, epidemiological data for the primary dentition are only available at 3 and 6 years of age (Socialstyrelsen, 2006). In Mercedonia, the prevalence of dental caries among school going children under twelve years was 60.8% (Ambarkova and Ivanova, 2014).
A study on dental caries experience in preschool children in Lahore, Pakistan found the prevalence of dental caries among preschool children at 1.85 ± 3.26. Furthermore, the study found significant association between prevalence of dental caries and low socioeconomic status, female gender and rural residence (Sufia et al., 2011).
A Nigerian study by Odegua and Alade (2017) found the prevalence of dental caries in primary school pupils in Port Harcourt at 12.6% with lower prevalence of dental caries among the private school pupils (10.2%) than in public school pupils (15%). It was further observed that the prevalence of dental caries among the females was higher (14.5%) than among males (10.5%) though there was no statistical difference between males and females (P = 0.22). The Nigerian study also found that the prevalence was highest among the 6 and 8 year olds compared to 3 to 6-year-old children (11.9%) (Odegua, and Alade, 2017). A study carried in Benin City by Okeigbemen, and colleagues found the prevalence of dental caries at 20.4% (Okeigbemen,, Nnawuihe, and Osemwegie, 2015).
The Nigeria National Oral Health Demographic Survey KNORS) report of 2015 indicate that the prevalence of dental caries among children aged 5, 12 and 15 years in Nigeria was 23.9%. The KNOHS report further indicates that the prevalence of dental caries was highest among 5 years old children at 46.3% compared to other age groups (KNOHS, 2015). This is similar to previous study done in 1992 which found the prevalence of dental caries to be 40-50% among children aged 13-15 (Ng’anga et al., 1992) in Nairobi, while in 2006 Kassim et. al., found the prevalence among adults living in a rural arid region to be 43% (Kassim et al., 2006).
A Nganga et al. study carried out among 262 public primary schools going children aged 6-8 years in Nairobi found Fifty-four per cent of the 6- to 8-year-olds caries-free. The mean dmft in the 6- to 8-year-olds was 1.7. The study found no statistical significant difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of caries between males and females in the younger age group. In general, the study showed a low caries prevalence in Nairobi children (Nganga et al., 1992). Another Nigerian study by Ngatia et al., (2001) found the 63.5% prevalence of dental caries among children aged 3-5 years.
Dental caries experience
World Health Organization (WHO) has reported dental caries as a pandemic disease and that the global prevalence of dental caries among school aged children is 60% to 90% (Petersen et al., 2005). In several industrialized countries the prevalence and severity of dental caries have declined substantially because of
preventive oral health care programmes and changes in living conditions and lifestyles (Petterson et al., 1996). In developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence varies according to country population group and socio-economic status (Cleaton-Jones, et al. 1999).
In Lahore, Pakistan, a study on dental caries experience in preschool children found the mean dmft score for the entire child population at 1.85 ± 3.26. Furthermore, the study found significant association between dmft scores and low socioeconomic status, female gender and rural residence (Sufia et al., 2011).
A Nigerian study by Odegua and Alade (2017) found than among three hundred and forty-four children had primary dentition, 13.1% had a dmft >0, with 37.8% from private school pupils. The study found he mean dmft index of 0.25 (±0.76) with those in private school pupils had a mean.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter explains the methodology that was used in this study. It includes study design, study area, study population, sampling technique, research tools, eligibility, data collection, data analysis, and ethical considerations.
Study Design
This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study that comprise of quantitative technique. The data was collected and analyzed for the presence of dental caries and then classified as per the dmft scores.
Study Population
The study population comprised all the Primary school going children aged 3-6 years in Ringado Local Government Area. The target population was all Primary school children meeting the study inclusion criteria in all the sampled schools. The Primary school going children include those in grade 1, baby class, introductory, and kindergarten.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
Demographic characteristics
A sample of 371 children and their parents/guardians was sampled from randomly selected 16 preschools with Ringado Local Government Area. The mean age of the respondents was 53.22 (SD=17.29) months. The mean age of children starting brushing was 3.55 (SD=0.94) years. The demographic characteristics of the sample were summarized in table 4.1.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
- The prevalence of dental caries among children aged 3-6 years was high (63.88%) despite relatively high oral health knowledge of the causes and prevention of dental caries among parents/caregivers.
- The main risk factors associated with prevalence of dental caries and caries experience were unemployed status of the mother (OR=3.18), household type of housing (OR=16.16 for timber and OR=7.21 for mud wall), eating sugary food (OR= 2.09), lack of brushing (OR=2.13), bottle feeding (OR=7.17) and bottle of water at night instead of milk (OR=2.0).
- The caries experience as measured by the mean dmft-index was relatively high ( 3.54±1.9 with the an interquartile range of 2-5
Recommendations
- The sub county health management teams should Initiate health education programs integrated with ANC, MCH/FP and school health education programs.
- The sub county medical officer of health should mobilize community oral health officers to perform regular dental checkups of preschool going children and educate their caregivers to enable prompt referral to the nearest dental health facility
- More research should be conducted on factors influencing dental health seeking behaviors and dietary habits of preschool children in peri-urban and rural areas.
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