Prevalence and Factors Associated with Dental Caries Among Children and Adults in Selected Districts in Uganda
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Date
2015-12
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Publisher
African Health Sciences
Abstract
Objective: The aim was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dental caries among adults and children in
seven districts of Uganda.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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 dis tricts. 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%).
Conclusion: 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.
Description
Journal Article Published in the Journal of African Health Sciences
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Citation
Kutesa A, Kasangaki A, Nkamba M, Muwazi L, Okullo I, Rwenyonyi CM. Prevalence and factors associated with dental caries among children and adults in selected districts in Uganda. Afri Health Sci. 2015;15(4):1302-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v15i4.33