Oral health status and treatment needs among 3-6 year-old children attending Lady Northey Dental Clinic, Nairobi City County

Abstract

Background: Oral health is an integral part of the general health of children and it has been defined as “a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the oral cavity”. Although there has been a great global success in improving the oral health of children, the problem still exists in many communities around the world; particularly among the under-privileged in both developed and developing countries. Dental caries and periodontal diseases, which are associated with poor oral hygiene and dietary factors, have been considered as important components of the global disease burden. These two diseases can effectively be prevented and controlled through a combination of community, professional and individual oral health prevention and promotion strategies. Setting: Lady Northey Dental Clinic, Nairobi City County, Kenya. Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to assess the oral health status and treatment needs of 3 to 6-year-olds attending Lady Northey dental clinic. Study Design and Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with a minimal analytic component. The study population comprised of 3 to 6 year-old children, who attended Lady Northey dental clinic during the months of September to November, 2014. A structured interview with the child’s parent/caregiver was used to collect data on the sociodemographic profile, oral hygiene and dietary practices. A clinical examination was then carried out by the principal investigator and a record made of oral mucosal lesions, dental caries, plaque deposits, gingival status, malocclusion and the corresponding treatment needs for each of these variables. Data analysis and presentation: The data collected was coded, entered, cleaned and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Univariate analyses were performed using Chi-square, ANOVA and t-tests. Adjusted odds ratios from multivariate logistic regression was also computed to obtain the association between different variables. The results of the analysis were presented in the form of charts and tables.