Chepkwony, Fredah Chepng’etich (2015) Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs among 3 - 6 Year - Old Children Attending Lady Northey Dental Clinic, Nairobi City County. Masters thesis, University of Nairobi.
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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. Results: The 272 children who participated in the current study had a high dietary sugar intake and poor oral hygiene status. The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in this study group was 40.4%, with dental abscess being the most common lesion. A total of 95% of the children had dental caries with a mean dmft of 8.53 (+ 5.52 SD). The prevalence of gingivitis and malocclusion was 44.1% and 55% respectively. With regards to the treatment needs, 60% of those who had oral mucosal lesions required prompt treatment in the form of incision and drainage. Most of the children in the study required restorations (87.5%), pulp therapy and stainless steel crowns (62.5%) and extraction (60.3%). Approximately 44% of the children required oral prophylaxis and scaling for the management of gingivitis. In relation to malocclusion, the majority (87.9%) of the children who participated in the study required preventive orthodontic treatment, while 8.8% and 2.6% required interceptive treatment and referral to an orthodontist respectively. Conclusion: The majority of the children had poor oral health status, poor oral hygiene practices and high sugar intake. Most of the children were from a low socioeconomic background with the caregivers having poor knowledge and attitude towards oral health and the perception that deciduous teeth were not important. The prevalence of dental caries was 95.5% with moderate prevalence rates for oral mucosal lesions, gingivitis and malocclusion. The treatment needs included prompt incision and drainage, extraction, dental restorations, pulp treatment, stainless steel crowns, oral prophylaxis and preventive orthodontic treatment. The only treatment available at the time the study was conducted was dental extraction. Recommendations: These results indicate a need to lobby county authorities to consider ways of improving dental health among children, human resource and capacity building, and a need to spread dental services to the periphery of Nairobi county.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RD Surgery R Medicine > RK Dentistry |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Mr Nahum Osman |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Jul 2016 05:54 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Jul 2016 05:54 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/614 |
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