Oral health delivery in refugee camps in East Region of Cameroon.

Background: Oral health care affects the quality of life and plays an essential role in the general health of vulnerable populations especially refugees. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality of oral health care delivery in the Gado-Badzeré refugee camp in the Eastern region of Cameroon. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study between January and July 2020 using a structured questionnaire in French and translated orally to Fulfulde language. Results: A total of 716 refugees from the Central African Republic with ages ranging from 6 to 81 years (29.3years ± 14.6 s.d), made up of 61.2% females, 378(52.8%) unemployed, 342(47.8%) married, 701(97.9%) Muslims, and 511(71.4 %) had no formal education participated. Oral health knowledge was significantly poor, 305 (42.6%) that consulted the health post for their oral health needs were not satisfied, 640(89.50%) had experienced toothache, 592(83.0%) needed restorative treatment, 709(99.0%) periodontal treatment and 215(30.0%) urgent needs like tooth extraction. There were no oral health facilities, no oral health personnel, no oral health outreach had ever been carried out in the camp, and oral pathologies were managed by nurses with medications. Conclusion: The quality of oral health care delivery in this camp was very poor. There is an absence of oral health workforce and basic primary oral health care facilities. Oral health knowledge was very poor and the treatment needs the refugees was very high.

Oral Health Status of the Elderly at Tonga, West Region, Cameroon.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status of elderly persons in Tonga, West Region of Cameroon. Methodology. This is a cross-sectional study of persons of at least 65 years, living in Tonga village, West Region of Cameroon. Results. A total of 183 persons aged between 65 and 94 years, mean age of 73 years ±7 s.d., 83 (45,4%) males, and 100 (54,6%) females participated in the study. The most represented age range was 65-74 years (60.1%); 86 (47.3%) and elders above 65 constituted 1.8% of the total population. More than a third 117 (41.4%) had visible dental plaque, 117 (48,6%) had periodontal pockets >4 mm, 153 (54,1%) had teeth with total crown destruction, 70 (38.3%) had not lost a tooth, 23 (12.6%) had lost 1 tooth, 19 (10.4%) have lost at least 2 teeth, 100 (55.7%) were partially edentulous at the maxilla and 98 (53.6%) at the mandible, 2 (1.1%) were completely edentulous at the maxilla and 3 (1.6%) at the mandible, and 3.8% had removable dentures. The mean DMF index was 6.11 and 69.4% had dental caries. Risk factors to dental caries were toothbrushing and tobacco consumption while dental plaque was associated to pocket depth of 4-6 mm. Barriers to oral health care included ignorance 47 (25.7%), financial difficulties 124 (67.8%), and distance to the nearest clinic 12 (6.5%). Conclusion. The oral status of the elderly was generally poor.