Prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralisation in six to eight year-olds in two rural divisions in Kenya

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) and any associated causes of MIH in children from two rural divisions in Kenya. Design: Prospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Seventeen primary schools in Matungulu and Kangundo divisions of Machakos district in Kenya. Subjects: All six to eight year-olds in the seventeen primary schools. Results: A total of 3,591 children (55.6% males and 44.4% females) were examined for MIH. All the children were from a low socio-economic community with little access to proper medical/dental health care. The prevalence of MIH was 13.73%, with a female to male ratio of 3:1. Conclusion: The prevalence of MIH of 13.73% was high in the study population and was probably associated with the poor health conditions that the children went through during the most venerable period of between birth and age three years.