1 research outputs found
Prevalence of oral diseases/conditions in Uganda
Objective: The aim was to report the prevalence of oral
diseases/conditions among a Ugandan population. Methods: Subjects aged
12 (n=696) and 35-44 years (n=396) were chosen from randomly selected
urban and peri-urban areas of Arua, Mbale, Kampala and Mbarara
districts. They were clinically examined by 4 trained and calibrated
dentists for oral diseases/ conditions using criteria described by
World Health Organisation. Results: Dental caries (DMFT ≥1) was
recorded in 40% and 62.5% of the children and adults, respectively. The
overall mean DMFT score was 0.9 for children and 3.4 for adults. Caries
was significantly more severe in females as compared to males in
children (p<0.05), whereas in adults, there was no significant
gender difference. Kampala had a significantly higher mean DMFT score
compared to other districts in all age groups (p>0.05). Culculus
deposits were generally, more prevalent in adults as compare to
children except in Mbarara district. Gum bleeding was also
significantly more prevalent among children as compared to adults
(p<0.05). Significantly higher prevalence of gum bleeding in both
children and adults was recorded in Arua district as compared to other
areas (p<0.05). Each of the age groups had a prevalence of
malocclusion of 61%. However, the severity of malocclusion varied
between age groups and districts. The prevalence of dental fluorosis
was 3% and 4% for children and adults, respectively. All subjects in
Arua district were fluorosis-free. Tetracycline enamel staining was
less than 1% in both age groups. Enamel attrition was more prevalent in
adults as compared to children: 19% versus 1%. Conclusion: The
prevalence of oral diseases/conditions was generally low among the
study population. Caries experience was significantly higher in the
Kampala (urban) district as compared to rural districts in all age
groups; the D - component being the major contributor