The Oral Health Status and Anthropometric Measurements of Children at Early Childhood Development Centers in an Informal Settlement in Pretoria, South Africa
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) continue to increase, especially among low socioeconomic communities. This study was conducted in an informal settlement comprising mostly foreigners who have settled in the area. Given the limited dental and medical services available to these communities, this study aimed to determine the dental and medical disease profile of these inhabitants. The objective was to determine the oral health status and the body mass index (BMI) of children attending crèches in an informal settlement. Materials and methods: Oral health data, including dental caries (DC), soft tissue lesions, fluorosis, erosion, and trauma, were recorded using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended methods. The examiners were calibrated, and all examinations took place at the crèches under natural sunlight. The BMI was calculated by a team of dieticians who were blinded to the oral health status. The height and weight were measured by calibrated examiners under standardized conditions. Results: < 0.001) as the number of carious teeth increased. Conclusion: component contributed almost 100% to the mean score, indicating a lack of access to dental care. The mean BMI score was inversely proportional to the number of carious teeth, which could imply that those with caries had difficulty eating. How to cite this article: The Oral Health Status and Anthropometric Measurements of Children at Early Childhood Development Centers in an Informal Settlement in Pretoria, South Africa. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):903-906.
Institution: University of Pretoria
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4402852201