RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Studies have highlighted the direct impact of caries on the nutritional status of children; few studies in Nigeria have examined the association between the two parameters. AIM: To determine the association between caries and the nutritional status of in-school children. Design of the study: A cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Two private and two public schools in Lagos state. METHODOLOGY: A total of 973 children were assessed for dental caries using the WHO diagnostic criteria. Nutritional status was assessed using the weight for age, height for age and weight for height parameters. Data entry and analysis were done using WHO Epi 3.5 nutritstat and SPSS version 20.0 software. The t test, ANOVA, chi squared test, correlation statistics and logistic regression analysis were used as tests of association. A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Caries prevalence was 21.7% while mean Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index score was 0.48 (±1.135). Overall 13.9% of the children studied were stunted, 13.6% were wasted and 10.9% were underweight. The caries prevalence was significantly higher in children with normal weight than in overweight or underweight children (p=0.009). Children who were wasted (p=0.111) and those who were underweight (p=0.659) had a higher mean DMFT score, but the relationship was not statistically significant. The DMFT score was negatively correlated with weight for age but positively correlated with height for age and weight for height. The relationships were also not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that underweight children had a higher risk of developing dental caries. Although both under weight and wasted children had higher mean DMFT scores, there was no significant association between dental caries and nutritional status.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Periodontal diseases (PD) impact the outcome of some systemic illnesses. Medical doctors' knowledge and practices regarding this association may influence the effective management of their patients. This has been understudied among Nigerian doctors. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding periodontal-systemic disease interactions among medical doctors in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive, cross sectional study by design, while the study setting was at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Ijanikin, Lagos. The study participants were senior resident doctors attending compulsory Research Methodology and Management courses organized by the NPMCN in 2014. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among the participants to obtain information on their socio-demography, PD knowledge, association between PD and systemic illnesses, attitudes to periodontal health and oral hygiene practices questionnaires. Student t test and ANOVA were used to test associations between variables. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 236 doctors participated in the study with a mean age of 35.8 (± 4.5) years, males being predominant (62.7%). Few doctors (42.1%) knew dental plaque as the main cause of PD, while 16.5% were aware of gum bleeding as earliest sign. Female doctors displayed better knowledge than males (p= 0.044). Majority were aware of an association between PD and chronic kidney disease (88.6%) and diabetes (86.5%). Knowledge of PD as a risk factor for stroke was 33.1%, poor glycemic control (25.4%), and pre-term low birthweight (14.8%). Most doctors had positive attitudes towards patients' periodontal health, while 33.5% assessed their patients' oral cavity regularly. All the doctors used tooth brush and paste to clean their teeth, while 43.2% cleaned twice daily. Only 16.5% used dental floss frequently and was associated with higher PD knowledge (p<0.001) and higher attitude scores (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Senior resident doctors in Nigeria have positive attitudes regarding periodontal health. However, poor knowledge of periodontal disease, and periodontal disease as risk factor for some systemic illnesses, coupled with unsatisfactory oral hygiene and dental examination practices are evident among the doctors.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Periodontal diseases (PD) impact the outcome of some systemic illnesses. Medical doctors' knowledge and practices regarding this association may influence the effective management of their patients. This has been understudied among Nigerian doctors. AIM: The study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding periodontal-systemic disease interactions among medical doctors in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive, cross sectional study by design, while the study setting was at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Ijanikin, Lagos. The study participants were senior resident doctors attending compulsory Research Methodology and Management courses organized by the NPMCN in 2014. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among the participants to obtain information on their socio-demography, PD knowledge, association between PD and systemic illnesses, attitudes to periodontal health and oral hygiene practices questionnaires. Student t test and ANOVA were used to test associations between variables. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 236 doctors participated in the study with a mean age of 35.8 (± 4.5) years, males being predominant (62.7%). Few doctors (42.1%) knew dental plaque as the main cause of PD, while 16.5% were aware of gum bleeding as earliest sign. Female doctors displayed better knowledge than males (p= 0.044). Majority were aware of an association between PD and chronic kidney disease (88.6%) and diabetes (86.5%). Knowledge of PD as a risk factor for stroke was 33.1%, poor glycemic control (25.4%), and pre-term low birthweight (14.8%). Most doctors had positive attitudes towards patients' periodontal health, while 33.5% assessed their patients' oral cavity regularly. All the doctors used tooth brush and paste to clean their teeth, while 43.2% cleaned twice daily. Only 16.5% used dental floss frequently and was associated with higher PD knowledge (p<0.001) and higher attitude scores (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Senior resident doctors in Nigeria have positive attitudes regarding periodontal health. However, poor knowledge of PD and PD as risk factor for some systemic illnesses, coupled with unsatisfactory oral hygiene and dental examination practices are evident among the doctors.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study was carried out in Lagos State in Ikorodu LGA (rural), a largely agrarian area producing raw materials for agro-allied industries and Ikeja LGA (urban), a highly-developed metropolis and commercial centre. Hitherto, studies showed that undernutrition had been the main form of malnutrition among Nigerian children. However with influences from urbanization, westernization and globalization in cosmopolitan Lagos, it is imperative to find out if the global epidemic of overweight and obesity has caught on. OBJECTIVES: To compare the nutritional status of primary school pupils in urban and rural LGAs in Lagos State, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross , sectional comparative study. A multistage sampling method was adopted. Data were collected from 529 pupils with an interviewer administered questionnaire. Their weight and height were recorded in pre-designed proforma and converted to nutritional indices. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of underweight, stunting and wasting in the rural area were 49.6%, 50.8% and 24.2% respectively; while it was 15.1%, 16.6% and 13.6% in the urban area respectively. There was overnutrition in the urban area: 15.1% were overweight and 13.2% were obese. The mean nutritional indices were significantly lower among the rural pupils than urban pupils (p<0.001) in each case. CONCLUSION: Undernutrition is still a major health problem among school children in Lagos State, Nigeria, more so in the rural area. There is an emergence of overweight and obesity in the urban area. A comprehensive programme to improve nutritional status is recommended as part of a well funded school health programme.