Correlates of childhood caries: A study in Qatar.

BACKGROUND: The prevalance of dental caries in children in Qatar is high, which necessitates preventive efforts. AIM: To identify the sociodemographic and behavioural correlates of dental caries in the primary dentition of children 4- to 8-year-olds in Qatar. DESIGN: Weighted data from the Qatar Child Oral Health Survey 2017 were analysed for caries prevalence (dmft>0) and experience (dmft). Sociodemographic and behavioural variables were also drawn from the survey. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among the 1154 children, caries prevalence was 69.3% (95%CI [63.4, 74.5]) and experience at 3.8 dmft (95%CI [3.3, 4.2]). The prevalence ratio (PR) 0.82 (0.72, 0.94) was lower among younger than in older children; those for non-Qatari nationality Arabic PR 0.91 (0.82, 1.00) and Other PR 0.75 (0.57, 0.99) than for Qatari nationality; those attending international kindergartens/schools PR 0.89 (0.80, 0.99) than independent schools; and whose parents had university-level education PR 0.85 (0.75,0.95) than did not. Caries prevalence was lower among those toothbrushing by age 3 years PR 0.88 (0.80,0.99) than later; children with low/intermediate sugar exposures PR 0.85 (0.74,0.97) and 0.89 (0.79,1.00) than those with high exposures; children with a dental check-up PR 0.68 (0.53,0.87) than those without; and children who drank bottled water with some fluoride PR 0.89 (0.80,0.99) than those who did not. Findings were similar for dmft. In conclusion caries prevalence varied but was high across sociodemographic correlates indicating vulnerablity. Interventions focusing on behaviours - such as toothbrushing, reducing sugar intake, check-up and encouraging intake of water with fluoride - are needed.

Development of a composite drought indicator for operational drought monitoring in the MENA region.

This paper presents the composite drought indicator (CDI) that Jordanian, Lebanese, Moroccan, and Tunisian government agencies now produce monthly to support operational drought management decision making, and it describes their iterative co-development processes. The CDI is primarily intended to monitor agricultural and ecological drought on a seasonal time scale. It uses remote sensing and modelled data inputs, and it reflects anomalies in precipitation, vegetation, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration. Following quantitative and qualitative validation assessments, engagements with policymakers, and consideration of agencies' technical and institutional capabilities and constraints, we made changes to CDI input data, modelling procedures, and integration to tailor the system for each national context. We summarize validation results, drought modelling challenges and how we overcame them through CDI improvements, and we describe the monthly CDI production process and outputs. Finally, we synthesize procedural and technical aspects of CDI development and reflect on the constraints we faced as well as trade-offs made to optimize the CDI for operational monitoring to support policy decision-making-including aspects of salience, credibility, and legitimacy-within each national context.

Oral health behavior and factors associated with poor oral status in Qatar: results from a national health survey.

OBJECTIVES: Oral health is a crucial determinant of quality of life. We aimed to determine oral health condition and factors associated with poor oral status in the adult national population of Qatar. METHODS: We used data from the World Health Organization supported STEPS (STEPwise approach to Surveillance) Survey conducted by the Supreme Council of Health, Qatar in 2012. A total of 2,496 Qataris (1,053 men, 1,443 women) answered the national survey. The Rao-Scott Chi-Square test was used to analyze oral health characteristics and multinomial logistic regression to assess risk factors. RESULTS: The self-perceived oral status of approximately 40 percent of respondents was either "average" or "poor" rather than "good." Poor oral status was more often reported by women (OR = 1.93; 95%CI = 1.30-2.80), by older (OR = 3.38; 95%CI = 1.59-7.19) and less educated respondents (OR = 3.58; 95%CI = 2.15-5.96). Other risk groups included people with diabetes (OR = 1.87; 95%CI = 1.24-2.81), smokeless tobacco users (OR = 3.90; 95%CI = 1.75-8.68), or ever tobacco users (OR = 1.66; 95%CI = 1.03-2.67). Oral health status appeared to be independent of diet, BMI status, and history of hypertension. Difficulties and behaviors related to oral health were more frequently reported by women than by men. These included pain (P < 0.001), difficulty chewing (P < 0.001), and discomfort over appearance of teeth (P < 0.001). Participants used toothbrushes, toothpicks, dental floss, and miswak to maintain oral hygiene. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that oral health remains a public health concern in Qatar.