Prevalence of Dental Caries among Private School Children in Benghazi, Libya (2023)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54361/LJMR.19.2.43Keywords:
Dental Caries, Prevalence, School Children, Benghazi, LibyaAbstract
Background: Oral diseases are among the most prevalent diseases globally and have serious health and economic burdens, greatly reducing quality of life for those affected. The most prevalent and consequential oral diseases are dental caries. Dental caries is considered a major public health problem in underdeveloped or developing countries. Therefore, the present study aimed at determining the prevalence of dental caries among school children.Material and Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the city of Benghazi targeting children among seven private schools, both sexes, all ages, using a systematic sampling, a collection form containing information about socio-demographic characteristics of study participants was used and the children had examined for dental caries by the study investigators for the presence of dental caries depend WHO diagnostic criteria for caries.Result: A Total of 917 students included in this study were 56.5% of the student were male and 43.6% female; most of them were from the 5 - 10 age group with 63.6%, with a Mean = 9.95 ± 2.6 standard deviation. The prevalence of dental caries among school children was 43.9%. The dental caries prevalence was significantly associated with age and specific school; the study participants with higher prevalence in the age groups 5-10 years. There was no significant association between gender and dental caries. Conclusion: The study concluded that dental caries is common among school children, significantly varying by age and socioeconomic status. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies to improve dental health and support overall well-being and academic success.
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