Dental caries in urban and rural areas in Mozambique

The purpose of this study was to assess the level of dental caries among 11-13 year old children and adults in urban and rural areas in Mozambique. The survey comprised a total of 575 schoolchildren from 5 areas in the Maputo Province, and 239 adults from 2 of the areas. There was a gradual increase in caries prevalence among the children from 23 per cent in the most distant rural area to 65 per cent in the urban centre, with a corresponding increase in DMFT from 0.5 to 2.1. In adults from a rural village there was an increase in caries prevalence and experience with age from 69 per cent with a DMFT of 3.7 at the age of 25-34 years, to 94 per cent and a DMFT of 7.9 at 45-54 years. In the urban group aged 25-34 years, there was a caries prevalence of 93 per cent and an average DMFT of 8.1, with no further increase in caries level with age. It was concluded that there was a sociogeographic variation in caries levels strongly associated with the degree of exposure to markets, and that a recent increase in exposure to cariogenic factors had occurred in urban areas.