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Dental Caries in African Preschool Children: Social Factors as Disease Markers
Author(s) -
Khan Mehroon N.,
CleatonJones Peter E.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1998.tb02984.x
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , medicine , indigenous , dentistry , african american , demography , oral health , disease , environmental health , population , history , ecology , ethnology , sociology , biology
Objective : This study investigated the associations between dental caries prevalence and severity and social factors in 3‐ to 5‐year‐old African children. Methods : Dental caries was diagnosed in natural light using WHO criteria, mirrors, and explorers. Socioeconomic information was obtained by questionnaire. Results : The percentages of 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐year‐olds with any caries experience were 47 percent, 58 percent, and 63 percent, respectively. Mean dmfs scores ( sd ) were 2.2(3.6), 3.0(3.8), and 3.7(4.1), respectively. Family education was associated with caries prevalence (P=.03) and severity (P=.008) in a multivariable regression model. Conclusion : In the indigenous African group studied, family education is a disease marker to target in future caries risk evaluations.