The situation on prevention and control of drinking-water-type endemic fluorosis in the diseased areas and the monitoring results of dental fluorosis in children in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2016 / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the operating condition of water-improvement projects and the prevalence trends of dental fluorosis of children aged 8 to 12 in drinking-water-type fluorosis areas in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Inner Mongolia),and to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures.Methods In 2013-2016,ten counties were sampled from all fluorosis counties in Inner Mongolia,and 3 villages were then sampled as fixed monitoring villages in each selected county.The monitored villages were divided into 3 groups according to the condition whether the village had improved water quality,the project operating condition and whether the fluorine content of water was qualified.The operating condition of water-improvement projects,the fluorine content of water and the prevalence of dental fluorosis of all children aged 8 to 12 were investigated.Results Both the number of water improvement-projects (22,22,23 and 24 projects) and the number of villages with water-improvement projects (22,23,24 and 26 villages) were increased from 2013 to 2016,the normal operation rates of water-improvement projects were 90.91％ (20/22)-95.83％ (23/24).The water fluoride content was compared among qualified water-improved villages,unqualified water-improved villages and water-unimproved villages [(0.83 ± 0.27),(1.77 ± 0.72),(2.31 ± 1.02) mg/L],the differences were statistically significant (F =60.889,P ＜ 0.05),the water fluorosis content of qualified water-improved villages was lower than that of unqualified water-improved villages and water-unimproved villages,respectively (P ＜ 0.05).The detection rate of children's dental fluorosis was compared among the 3 groups [21.48％ (441/2 053),48.68％ (240/493),37.02％ (308/832)],the differences were statistically significant (x2 =171.889,P ＜ 0.05),the detection rate of children's dental fluorosis of qualified water-improved villages was lower than that of unqualified water-improved villages and water-unimproved villages,respectively (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The prevalence of children's dental fluorosis in Inner Mongolia has been controlled to some degree,and the water-improvement projects that in good working condition play an important role in prevention and control of dental fluorosis.