Dental caries in African preschool children: social factors as disease markers.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the associations between dental caries prevalence and severity and social factors in 3- to 5-year-old African children.


METHODS
Dental caries was diagnosed in natural light using WHO criteria, minors, and explorers. Socioeconomic information was obtained by questionnaire.


RESULTS
The percentages of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds with any caries experience were 47 percent, 58 percent, and 63 percent, respectively. Mean dmfs scores (SD) were 2.2(3.6), 3.0(3.8), and 3.7(4.1), respectively. Family education was associated with caries prevalence (P = .03) and severity (P = .008) in a multivariable regression model.


CONCLUSIONS
In the indigenous African group studied, family education is a disease marker to target in future caries risk evaluations.
Khan
M N
MN
University of the Witwatersrand, Dental Research Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Cleaton-Jones
P E
PE
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003441:Crowding; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014944:World Health Organization