Relationship Between Socio-Demographic Profile, Parity and Dental Caries Among a Group of Nursing Mothers in South East, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk indicators of caries among nursing mothers in a tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 408 nursing mothers aged 15 to 52 years who brought their children for immunization in a tertiary hospital in Enugu, Nigeria. Data on socio-demographic profile, parity, dental visits were collected. The presence of dental caries was recorded using the World Health Organization criteria. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 11.0%, and the mean DMFT was 0.18. There was a statistically significant association between level of education (p<0.001), past dental visit (p<0.001) and the occurrence of dental caries. Caries was more prevalent in the mandibular teeth than the maxillary teeth. The left mandibular first and second permanent molars had the highest occurrence of dental caries. Missing (M) component of the DMFT index was highest and the care index was low. The significant predictors of caries among nursing mothers were fair oral hygiene and having below tertiary education. Conclusion: The prevalence of caries and the care index were both low in this study population. The significant predictors of dental caries were a tertiary level of education and poor oral hygiene. Incorporating oral health education during postnatal care can help reduce dental caries' occurrence and complications among nursing mothers in the study population.

Disparities in Caries Experience and Socio-Behavioural Risk Indicators Among Private School Children in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and socio-behavioural risk factors for dental caries among children at selected LGAs in Lagos State. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive study of 592 school children in four Local Government Areas of Lagos, Nigeria. The presence of caries was recorded using the World Health Organization criteria. Descriptive statistics were reported for analysis of comparative DMFT and SiC scores in relation to age, gender, and other socio-demographic variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the differential impact of the variables on the probability of being in the high caries prevalence group. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 16.0% with mean dmft for age 6 being 1.3 ± 1.57 while the mean DMFT for age 12 was 0.15 ± 0.67. The mean Sic for age 6 was 1.5 ± 0.53 while the mean SiC for age 12 was 1.09 ± 0.29. The mean SiC values was significantly higher in the primary and permanent dentition among those who had never visited the dentist, female students, those who don't use fluoridated toothpaste and those who eat sweets and candy several times a day. After logistic regression analysis, those with no previous dental visit (OR=3.05; CI: 1.72-4.67) and females (OR=1.55; CI: 1.16-1.62) still had significantly higher SiC Values. Conclusion: The prevalence of caries was low in the study population. Being female, non-use of fluoride-containing toothpaste and not visiting the dentist were significant predictors of dental caries among children attending private schools.

Social predictors of oral hygiene status in school children from suburban Nigeria

Abstract Oral hygiene, which is measured by the status of plaque-free tooth surfaces, is essential for the promotion of oral health. This study aimed to determine the social predictors of good oral hygiene for children in a suburban population in Nigeria. This was a secondary analysis of data. The study participants were 8- to 16-year-old children who were residents in Ile-Ife, which is a suburban population in Nigeria. Information on the age, gender, socioeconomic status, family structure, number of siblings and birth rank of each study participant was retrieved from the an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Oral hygiene status was determined through a simplified-oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and categorized as good, fair and poor. The association between oral hygiene status and sociodemographic variables was determined. The predictors of good oral hygiene were determined using a binomial regression analysis. Data on 2,107 individuals were retrieved, of which 44.8% had good oral hygiene and 17.1% had poor oral hygiene. The odds of having good oral hygiene were reduced for children who were 13 to 16 years old (p = 0.02) or male (P=0.002) and children with low socioeconomic status (p ≤ 0.001). The odds of having good oral hygiene increased for children who were last-born compared with those who were first-born (p = 0.02). Age, gender, socioeconomic status and birth-rank were significant social predictive factors of oral hygiene status among the study population. Based on these findings, targeted interventions can be conducted to improve the oral hygiene status of children and adolescents with these social profiles.

Habit-breaking methods employed by mothers of children with nonnutritive sucking habits resident in suburban Nigeria

Parents are often concerned about their children's nonnutritive sucking (NNS) habits and may institute mechanisms to try to break them. Aim: The study identified various methods instituted by mothers resident in a suburban Nigeria to break NNS habits of children, reasons for wanting to break the habit, and the association between instituted methods and sociodemographic profile of the mothers. Materials and Methods: The data of 129 mothers of children aged 4 years to 12 years who had NNS habits at the time of conducting a household survey were analyzed. Statistical Analysis: Tests of associations were conducted to determine the association between maternal age and level of education and methods employed to break child's NNS habits. Results: Eighty-four mothers (65.1%) made efforts to break the habit. Habit persisting to older age was the main concern. The most common method employed for breaking habits was punishing the child (54.8%).Only 7 (20.0%) mothers who were concerned about NNS habit(s) sought professional advice. A greater though insignificant percentage of mothers in the 25–34 years age group (57.2%; P = 0.48) and those with secondary school level of education (56.0%; P = 0.12) made efforts to break their children's NNS habits. Conclusions: The majority of mothers were concerned about their children's NNS habits. However, very few concerned mothers sought professional advice. Efforts need to be made to improve the public awareness about the availability of professional services for managing NNS habits and potential impact of employing nonprofessional methods to break habits.

Appointment Failure among Dental Patients Attending a Government Dental Centre in Enugu, Nigeria

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and socio demographic factors associated with failed dental appointments among dental patients in a government dental clinic. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 419 participants who were non-first clinic attendees at a government dental clinic in Enugu, Nigeria. Data was collected on socio-demographic profile, mode of transportation and reasons for failed appointment, using a pretested structured questionnaire. Bi-variate analysis was conducted to test the association between study participants' age, sex, occupation, mode of transportation and failed dental appointment using Chi-square test and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The age of the study participants ranged from 5 years to 90 years. More females (57.8%) than males (42.2%) participated in the study. The prevalence of failed appointment was 27.7%. The major reasons for failed appointments were "being busy with other activities" (12.4%) and "far distance" (6.9%). Only 0.7% of the study participants received telephone calls as reminder. There was no statistically significant association between age (p=0.40), sex (p=0.12), level of education (p=0.40), occupation (p=0.52), mode of transportation (p=0.71) and failed dental appointment. Conclusion: The prevalence of failed dental appointment was high in this population. Being busy and far distance were the commonest reasons for failed appointments. Very few study participants were reminded of their appointment.

Effect of referral for dental service on dental-service utilization by primary school children aged 8 to 11 years in Enugu, Nigeria

Aim: To determine how one dental education session and referral of study participants aged 8-11 years would affect utilization of oral-health care services. Methods: This descriptive prospective study recruited 1,406 pupils aged 8-11 years from randomly selected primary schools in Enugu metropolis. All pupils received one oral-health education and referral letters for treatment. Data were collected on the pupils' socio-demographic profile, family structure, and history of oral-health care utilization in the 12 months preceding the study and within 12 months of receipt of referral letter. The effect of these factors as predictors of past and recent dental service utilization was determined using logistic regression. Results: Only 4.3% of the study participants had ever used oral-health services in the 12 months prior to the study. Within 12 months of issuing the referral letters, 9.0% of pupils used the oral-health services. Children from middle (AOR: 0.46; CI: 0.29-0.73; p=0.001) and low socioeconomic strata (AOR: 0.21; CI: 0.11-0.39; p<0.001) and those living with relatives/guardians (AOR: 0.08, CI: 0.01-0.56; p=0.01) were still less likely to have utilized oral-health services. Conclusions: Referral of children for oral-health care increased the number of children who utilized oral health care services (Au)

Risk Factors of Early Childhood Caries among Children in Enugu, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of early childhood caries (ECC). Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 429 preschool children aged five years and below in Enugu East Local Government Area, Enugu, Nigeria. Data on socio-demographic profile, dental visits, brushing frequency, oral hygiene status and snacking habit of the children were obtained. The presence of dental caries was recorded by using the World Health Organization criteria. Results: The prevalence of early childhood caries was 9.8% and the mean dmft score was 0.37. Bivariate analysis showed significant association between age (p<0.001), socio-economic status of the child's family (p=0.04), oral hygiene status (p<0.001), dental visits (p=0.01) snacking (p=0.01) and early childhood caries. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age (OR= 4.3, CI=1.17-15.6; p=0.03), high socioeconomic status (OR= 3.7, CI= 1.46-9.47; p=0.01) and fair oral hygiene (OR= 0.10, CI=0.26-0.39, p=0.001) were significant predictors of early childhood caries in this population. Conclusion: The prevalence of ECC was high in this population. Age, high socioeconomic status and fair oral hygiene were risk predictors of ECC. Early and prompt access to oral health education and preventive dental care for children by mothers and caregivers can reduce the occurrence of ECC.