title: Oral hygiene and nutritional status of children aged 1-7 years in a rural community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Poor oral hygiene, measles and malnutrition have been implicated as predisposing factors to Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG) and cancrum oris, common oral diseases prevalent among children ages 3-6 years in rural communities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was aimed at reviewing the oral hygiene, nutritional and immunization status of children 13-84 months of age in a rural community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and thirty seven (237), 168 and 321 children and their parents from Illela, Gada and Gwadabawa respectively were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire to record the biodata and social status of the mother and measles immunization status of the children. The oral hygiene status of the children was determined using the plaque/debris index score. Their anthropometric measurements were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 636 children aged 1-7years were examined. Of these, 8.3% had plaque/debris index of zero. About twenty four percent (23.9%) had plaque/debris index of 1, while 55.2% had plaque/debris index of 2 and 12.6% had plaque/debris index of 3. There was no statistical difference between the females and the males (p=0.333), but a significant difference existed between the age groups (p=0.001). Of the study group, 84.3% were malnourished and only 11.3% were immunized against measles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor oral hygiene, malnutrition and low measles immunization were common in the community. These conditions predispose to noma. Prompt and adequate intervention programmes such as systematic oral health, immunization and nutrition promotion programmes are urgently needed in these communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos-Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okolo
authors.forename: Ga
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chukwu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Egbuonu
authors.forename: Fa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ezeogu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Onwuanaku
authors.forename: Oa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adeleke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ngoe-Nesoah