Assessment of Oral Health Status and Practices among Children Aged 5 to 16 Years in Kakajo Zone Two, Bukesa Parish, Kampala District.

Abstract

Introduction: Kakajjo zone two is a slum community found in Bukesa parish Kampala central division. It highly congested with a population predominantly composed of children and adolescents. The residents in this community are likely to be of low Social economic status. The local area does not have any dental clinics, however, dental conditions exist with in the community and this is seen by the cases reported to be received by the Drug shops and other clinics in the community, yet many other similar conditions remain concealed in the community.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health status and practices of children aged 5-16 years in kakajjo zone two, Bukesa Parish Kampala Central Division.

Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 173 respondents for which 91 were females and 82 were males. These were randomly selected from kakajjo zone two. Data on oral health state and practices was collected by means of self-administered questionnaires.

Results: Of all the children, 97.1% of them ate sugary snacks. All the children ate between meals. Potatoes as well as starchy snacks were eaten most between meals. More than a third (94.6%) of the children brushed their teeth. 66.5% brushed regularly, 79.2% did not brush before bed time, and 81% did not brush after eating sugary snacks. Of all the children, 83.8% of the children had not visited a dentist in the past one year. 40% of the children had decayed teeth, 22.5% had missing teeth and none of the children (0%) had filled teeth as far as the DMF-T criteria is concerned. 24.9% of the children presented with caliculus. No other oral health condition was found.

Conclusion: Majority of the children had a high dental caries experience due to high consumption of sugary snacks and not brushing thereafter, not brushing before bed time. This was followed by parental negligence as far as the oral health of their children is concerned, irregular brushing habits, and lack of routine dental checkup visits and the lack of an operational Dental Clinic in the local community.

Recommendations: There should be massive and regular community mobilizations and sensitization on Oral health and practices so that parents are equipped with proper knowledge on oral health in order to be in position to protect the oral health of their children. Key words: Oral health status, Oral health practices, Kakajjo zone two.