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Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in Africa: A Systematic Review
Faheema Kimmie-Dhansay1, Ntombizodwa Rosemary Nkambule2, Nadia Schoonraad3
1Department of Community Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
Background:
The prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) continues to increase. It is recognised as a public health concern, particularly in developing countries. Early childhood caries has numerous adverse effects on children's growth and overall well-being. Despite the global burden of ECC, data from Africa remain limited, varied and are based on inconsistent diagnostic criteria and study methodologies.
Aim:
The aim was to perform a systematic review to ascertain the prevalence of ECC in children across Africa between January 2000 and March 2025.
Materials And Methods:
A systematic literature search of peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 2000 and March 2025 was conducted using multiple databases, including PubMed, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, AFRICA-WIDE INFO, African Journals Online (AJOL) and CINAHL. Prospero Registration: CRD42018112161.
Results:
A total of 70 studies, representing 58 644 participants from 13 African countries, were included in the review. The overall prevalence of ECC was 37.9% (95% CI: 31.2-44.6), with variations observed among countries and urban/rural settings. The mean dmft score was 1.98 (95% CI: 1.86-2.10).
Discussion And Conclusion:
The prevalence of ECC varies considerably across the African continent. This could be due to differences in education, access to dental care and human resources among countries and regions.
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