Comparison of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Status of Children in Suburban with those in Rural Population of Southwestern Nigeria

Objective: To compare prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status and associated risk factors of children in suburban and rural communities in the Southwest region of Nigeria. Material and Methods: Secondary data was extracted from cross-sectional researches conducted in two study locations involving 8 to 12 year olds.  Data retrieved included age, gender, family structure, socioeconomic status, oral hygiene and dental caries. Caries assessment was done using WHO Oral Health Survey methods. Oral hygiene data was collected using Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) by Greene and Vermillion. Statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in Group A and Group B study participants were 13.4% and 22.2% respectively. Children from rural community had significant higher caries prevalence (p=0.00) and poorer oral hygiene (P=0.00) compare with their counterparts in the suburban community. There was a significant association between oral hygiene, age and dental caries in suburban participants (p=0.02) while among the rural participants there was significant association between gender and dental caries (p=0.04). Children with poor oral hygiene have increased odds of having dental caries compared to children with good oral hygiene in the two study communities. Conclusion: Dental caries was more prevalent among the rural dwellers than the sub-urban dwellers. There is a need to make oral health care services/products available, accessible and affordable for the rural community

Nigerian women reap benefits from indigenous vegetables

Despite their potential, research has failed to prioritize indigenous vegetable species for improving food security, nutrition and income. The project worked with 1,200 farmers (50% women) who have formed 22 vegetable cooperative groups. Radio programs on popular FM stations in south-western Nigeria created awareness on production, utilization, and nutritional and health benefits of underutilized vegetables, reaching over 3 million listeners. There has been rapid expansion of the project sites, with more farmers joining the training. Given the successes recorded in the field in south-western Nigeria, the introduction of this system is adaptable to other areas of Africa

Synergizing fertilizer micro-dosing and indigenous vegetable production to enhance food and economic security of West African farmers : final report

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This annex answers questions that arose from baseline reports regarding: educational level of farmers; land acquisition; land area under vegetable cultivation; current use of fertilizers by farmers and use of irrigation; ease of water supply and access; costs associated with accessing water; household consumption of vegetables; and disputes in relation to the use of irrigation water, with emphasis on gender distribution. This is a detailed report on surveys, with data tables included. The Nigeria-Canada Indigenous Vegetables Project (NiCanVeg) successfully developed new technologies that improved farming practices, post-harvest handling and value addition for Indigenous vegetables

Time expended on managing molar incisor hypomineralization in a pediatric dental clinic in Nigeria

Abstract This study assessed the difference in the number of visits made to a dental care clinic and the time spent providing specific dental treatment for children with and without molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Children aged 8 to 16 years who presented at the Pediatric Dental Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were eligible for the study. A comprehensive medical and dental history was taken, and each child was clinically examined, diagnosed, and treated according to a drawn-up plan. The time taken to establish a diagnosis and to provide specific treatments (scaling and polishing, restoration, pulpectomy, extraction, and placement of stainless steel crowns) and the number of visits made to complete the treatment plan were recorded for each child. Differences in the number of visits, time expended to make a diagnosis and to treat children with and without MIH were analyzed. The average time for diagnosis (p = 0.001) and the average time for placing amalgam restorations (p = 0.008) were significantly longer in children with MIH than in those without it. Children with MIH made more visits to the clinic (p < 0.001).There was no significant difference in the average time for scaling and polishing (p = 0.08), glass ionomer cement restorations (p = 0.99), composite restorations (p = 0.26), pulpectomy (p = 0.42), tooth extraction (p = 0.06), and placement of a stainless steel crown (p = 0.83) in children with and without MIH. In conclusion, children with MIH required more time for oral health care. Placing amalgam restorations took significantly longer than placing tooth bonding restorative materials in children with MIH than in those without it

Time expended on managing molar incisor hypomineralization in a pediatric dental clinic in Nigeria

<div><p>Abstract This study assessed the difference in the number of visits made to a dental care clinic and the time spent providing specific dental treatment for children with and without molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Children aged 8 to 16 years who presented at the Pediatric Dental Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were eligible for the study. A comprehensive medical and dental history was taken, and each child was clinically examined, diagnosed, and treated according to a drawn-up plan. The time taken to establish a diagnosis and to provide specific treatments (scaling and polishing, restoration, pulpectomy, extraction, and placement of stainless steel crowns) and the number of visits made to complete the treatment plan were recorded for each child. Differences in the number of visits, time expended to make a diagnosis and to treat children with and without MIH were analyzed. The average time for diagnosis (p = 0.001) and the average time for placing amalgam restorations (p = 0.008) were significantly longer in children with MIH than in those without it. Children with MIH made more visits to the clinic (p < 0.001).There was no significant difference in the average time for scaling and polishing (p = 0.08), glass ionomer cement restorations (p = 0.99), composite restorations (p = 0.26), pulpectomy (p = 0.42), tooth extraction (p = 0.06), and placement of a stainless steel crown (p = 0.83) in children with and without MIH. In conclusion, children with MIH required more time for oral health care. Placing amalgam restorations took significantly longer than placing tooth bonding restorative materials in children with MIH than in those without it.</p></div

General anxiety, dental anxiety, digit sucking, caries and oral hygiene status of children resident in a semi-urban population in Nigeria

Abstract Background Digit sucking can represent untreated anxiety or other emotional problems. The aim of this study was to determine if digit sucking is a predictor of general anxiety and dental anxiety; and if general and dental anxiety are associated with caries and oral hygiene status of children resident in sub-urban Nigeria. Methods This was a secondary data analysis of a household survey conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The level of general anxiety and dental anxiety of 450 6 to12 year old children were measured using the Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale and Dental Subscale of the Child Fear Survey Schedule respectively. Presence of digit sucking habit, caries and oral hygiene status were determined. General anxiety and dental anxiety scores were dichotomized into low and high levels respectively. Logistic regression was conducted to determine if digit sucking was a predictor of general anxiety and dental anxiety; and if general anxiety and dental anxiety were predictors caries and good oral hygiene status. Adjustments were made for age and sex. Results Digit sucking is not a significant predictor of dental anxiety (p = 0.99) and general anxiety (p = 0.79). Children with high general anxiety (AOR: 5.02; 95% CI: 2.9–9.74; p <  0.001) and high dental anxiety (AOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.15–2.65; p = 0.009) had higher odds of having caries and good oral hygiene respectively. Conclusion Digit sucking was not a significant predictor of general anxiety and dental anxiety. General and dental anxiety however, had effects on the likelihood of having caries and good oral hygiene

Impact assessment of production of indigenous vegetables in West Africa : MicroVeg Project

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)The report aims to evaluate the impact of MICROVEG intervention, which is being implemented through the Innovation Platform (IP) systems in 51 Local Government Areas/Districts of two countries, Nigeria and Benin. The research focused on scaling up advancements in indigenous vegetables production to increase traditional vegetable yields while also preserving soil and water ecosystems, and conserving fertilizer costs. The project targeted four indigenous vegetables: Telfairia occidentalis (Ugu, Nigeria only), Amaranthus cruentus (aléfo), Ocimum gratissimum (tchiayo, Benin only) and Solanum macrocarpon (gboma). This paper reviews indicators of the programme’s success, and scaling up