Prevalence of Complete Edentulism in Adults and Older Nigerian Population.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of complete edentulism varies from country to country and from one region to another region, and making comparisons between national data challenging because of the impact of lifestyle, socio-economic and educational factors. There is no reported national data for Nigeria. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study was to determine the prevalence of complete edentulism among adult (35-44 years) and older (65-74 years) Nigerians, being part of a national oral health survey of Nigerians conducted in 2014. METHODOLOGY: The study was a cross-sectional survey of oral diseases, specifically dental caries, periodontal diseases, dental trauma, and tooth loss, among adult and older Nigerian populations using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique for all 36 states and the FCT, and clinical examination in field situations using daylight settings, with findings collected using data entry forms (WHO 1997). Ethical approvals were obtained from the FMOH, SMOH and SMLGCA. Data was analysed using SPSS-11 and nominal variables compared using chi-square. A p-value of 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 5,038 adults and 4,658 older Nigerians were examined, of which 4(0.08%) and 84 (1.8%), respectively had complete edentulism. Among the adults, it was reported exclusively in Northern Nigeria; whereas among the older population, 66(2.8%) and 18(0.8%) participants in Northern and Southern Nigeria respectively, were reported to be edentulous (p<0.05). 45 cases (4.7%) of edentulism in older Nigerians were reported from the North West geopolitical zone alone. Edentulism is higher in the older population than the adult population in both Northern and Southern regions (p<0.05). Socio-demographic variation was significant in the North, with a higher prevalence in the rural localities among the older population (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study showed that there are variations in the prevalence of edentulism in Nigeria, reflecting lower prevalence in comparison with global trends. National prevalence values did not reflect variations along geographical and socio-political divide.

INTRODUCTION: La prévalence de l'édentation complète varie d'un pays à l'autre et d'une région à l'autre, ce qui rend les comparaisons entre les données nationales difficiles en raison de l'impact des facteurs liés au mode de vie, à la situation socio- économique et à l'éducation. Il n'existe pas de données nationales pour le Nigéria. BUTS ET OBJECTIFS: L'étude visait à déterminer la prévalence de l'édentation complète chez les Nigérians adultes (35-44 ans) et plus âgés (65-74 ans), dans le cadre d'une enquête nationale sur la santé bucco-dentaire des Nigérians menée en 2014. MÉTHODOLOGIES: L'étude était une enquête transversale sur les maladies bucco-dentaires, en particulier les caries dentaires, les maladies parodontales, les traumatismes dentaires et la perte de dents, parmi les populations nigérianes adultes et âgées, en utilisant une technique d'échantillonnage stratifiée à plusieurs niveaux pour les 36 États et le FCT, et un examen clinique dans des situations de terrain utilisant des environnements de lumière du jour, avec des résultats recueillis à l'aide de formulaires de saisie de données (OMS 1997). Les autorisations éthiques ont été obtenues auprès de la FMOH, de la SMOH et de la SMLGCA. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide du logiciel SPSS -11 et les variables nominales ont été comparées à l'aide du chi-carré. Une valeur p de 0,05 a été considérée comme significative. RÉSULTATS: Au total, 5 038 adultes et 4 658 Nigérians âgés ont été examinés, dont 4 (0,08 %) et 84 (1,8 %), respectivement, souffraient d'édentation complète. Chez les adultes, l'édentation a été signalée exclusivement dans le nord du Nigeria, tandis que chez les personnes âgées, 66 (2,8 %) et 18 (0,8 %) participants du nord et du sud du Nigeria respectivement ont été déclarés édentés (p<0,05). 45 cas (4,7%) d'édentulisme chez des Nigérians âgés ont été signalés dans la seule zone géopolitique du Nord-Ouest. L'édentulisme est plus élevé dans la population âgée que dans la population adulte, tant dans les régions du Nord que du Sud (p<0,05). Les variations sociodémographiques étaient significatives dans le Nord, avec une prévalence plus élevée dans les localités rurales parmi la population âgée (p<0,05). CONCLUSION: L'étude a montré qu'il existe des variations dans la prévalence de l'édentation au Nigéria, reflétant une prévalence plus faible par rapport aux tendances mondiales. Les valeurs de prévalence nationale ne reflètent pas les variations géographiques et sociopolitiques. Mots-clés: Édentulisme, Prévalence, Adultes, Personnes âgées, Nigérians.

Dental attendance in a sample of Nigerian pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Good oral health is a fungamental component of pregnant women overall health and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of dental services utilisation and the reasons for non utilisation among women receiving antenatal care at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of all pregnant women receiving antenatal care in a Nigerian teaching hospital (LASUTH) between July and September 2008 was conducted. The study assessed the women's opinions on regular dental visits, dental visits during pregnancy, the frequency of utilization of oral health services before and during pregnancy and their reasons for non-attendance. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty two (342) pregnant women with age range 18 to 44 years (mean 30.37 +/- 4.5) participated in the study. Only 163 respondents (33.0%) reported ever visiting a dentist, 24 (7.0%) had done so just before or during the present pregnancy. Among the dental clinic attendees the commonest reason for attendance was pain (88 women or 53.9%). Majority (62%) of those who had never visited a dentist attributed their non-attendance to the absence of dental pain. There was a significant relationship between the respondent's age and the utilization of dental services (p < 0.001). The older women had utilised dental services more often than their younger counterparts. Educational level and ethnic grouping were not significantly related to their use of dental services. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of women receiving antenatal care at LASUTH do not visit the dentist regularly. It is important to provide women in the reproductive age with information on the benefit of regular dental care especially during pregnancy.

Public perception of cross-infection control in dentistry in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the perception of patients on the use of gloves and facemasks in dental practice, methods of sterilisation and the risk of cross-infection. METHODS: Questionnaire survey of patients attending two teaching hospitals and a private dental clinic in Lagos, Nigeria. RESULTS: 228 respondents returned the questionnaires. Nearly all (98.6%) regarded the use of gloves as necessary and 189 (82.9%) did not mind the use of gloves, only 129 (56.6%) felt the facemask was necessary although 132 (57.9%) did not mind its use. More than half of the respondents (54%) felt they could contract an infection in the dental clinic and 43% of them identified HIV as a risk. This response was significantly affected by educational status (p<0.05). 140 patients (61.4%) would not attend a clinic if they knew that HIV patients were treated there. Females were significantly more unwilling to attend (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: While this survey shows a high level of acceptance of the use of gloves, there is a glaring lack of knowledge and acceptance of the use of the facemask indicating a need for more effective public enlightenment on the use of barrier methods. It also reveals a great deal of fear for HIV among Nigerians.