ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of malocclusion in 12-15 -year-olds in Moshi, Tanzania. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and eighty nine randomly selected primary school children (153 males and 136 females) had a clinical examination for malocclusion traits done. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of malocclusion was 97.6%. Angle's Class II and III malocclusion occurred in 6.9% and 11% of the sample respectively. Crowding was encountered very frequently in both jaws, especially in the lower anterior segments. Anterior open bite occurred in 6.2% and the deep bite in 10.7% of the sample. There was no significant gender difference in either the overall prevalence of malocclusion or in the occurrence of the different occlusal traits. CONCLUSION: It was noteworthy that some of the malocclusion traits recorded were relatively minor deviations from the normal occlusion. Hence the high prevalence of malocclusion did not necessarily imply a heavy burden of need and demand for orthodontic treatment.
Subject(s)
Malocclusion/epidemiology , Adolescent , Age Distribution , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Malocclusion/diagnosis , Prevalence , Sex Distribution , Tanzania/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the dietary patterns and the prevalence of dental caries among nursery school children in Nairobi. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Nursery schools in Nairobi, Kenya. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and four nursery school-children (149 males and 155 females) aged 3-5 years were assessed in 1997. RESULTS: There was a high consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk on a daily basis. There was also a high consumption of snacks both at home and at school. About 96% of the children had been breastfed, while 41% had been bottle-fed. The prevalence of dental caries was high at 63.5% and a mean decayed, missing and filled teeth index (dmft) of 2.95, with the d-component comprising 96% of the total dmft. Only 1.3% of the children had filled teeth. Increasing age was the most predictive factor in dental caries. CONCLUSION: The high consumption of refined foods and snacks, as well as the high prevalence of dental caries raises a strong public health concern. It is recommended that dietary counselling and preventive oral health programmes should be initiated and the already existing ones strengthened and incorporated in primary healthcare programmes. There is also need for policy makers to come up with guidelines on advertisements promoting cariogenic snacks.
