Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries Among Preschool Children in Johannesburg, South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To determine the prevalence of dental caries among preschool children in the metropolitan area of Johannesburg; (2) to determine the dental caries status and unmet treatment needs of four- to six-year-old children; (3) to compare their dmft/DMFT scores with the significant caries index (SiC) for similar age cohorts; and (4) to compare their dental caries prevalence with those of similar age cohorts, as reported in the National Children's Oral Health Survey (NCOHS).


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 10 preschools. Stratified randomized sampling of the participating children was done and schools were stratified by regions.


RESULTS
A total of 459 children, with a mean age of 4.8 years, were examined. The overall caries prevalence (CP) was 44 percent, with a mean dmft score of 2.3±3.4 (standard deviation [SD]). Among four- to five-year-old children, the CP was 49 percent (dmft 2.4 ±3.4 SD versus 2.38 NCOHS, SiC=6.41; P<0.00001). The CP for six-year-old children was 51 percent (dmft 2.38, ±3.4 SD versus 2.9 NCOHS, SiC = 5.35; P<0.00001). Ninety-seven percent of the children did not have their dental needs met.


CONCLUSIONS
There is high caries prevalence among preschool children in Johannesburg.
Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. malebo.mothupi@wits.ac.za.
Kelebogile A
KA
Mothupi
Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Cathrine B
CB
Nqcobo
Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Veerasamy
V
Yengopal
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population