Dental fluorosis and oral-health-related-quality-of-life among 11-14 year olds in Naivasha, Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: Dental fluorosis is a condition that results from excessive systemic exposure to fluoride during the period of enamel formation. Oral-health-related-quality-of-life (OHRQoL) is an integral component of general health and overall wellbeing. This study seeks to evaluate the impact of dental fluorosis on quality of life among adolescents’ in Naivasha, Kenya. Aim: To determine the prevalence of dental fluorosis using Thylstrup and Fejerskov Index (TF) and the oral-health-related-quality-of-life (OHRQoL) using Child Perception Questionnaire for 11–14-year-olds (CPQ, 11-14) among adolescents in Naivasha, Kenya Methodology: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. A total 201 of children aged between 11 and 14 years enrolled in public primary schools within Naivasha sub-county of Nakuru County were included. A self-administered shortened version CPQ 11-14 questionnaire was administered to the participants after consent and assent procedures. Clinical examination for dental fluorosis was done and scored using the Thylstrup and Fejerskov index. Data Analysis: The collected data were cleaned and tabulated after which they were entered into Microsoft Excel ®. Descriptive statistics were performed: frequency distributions, measures of central tendency (mean & median) for fluorosis (TF) and quality of life (CPQ 11-14 OHRQoL) in relation to age and gender. Measures of dispersion (standard deviation) as well as total and domain scoring of CPQ 11-14 (OHRQoL) were performed. Simple and multiple regression were used to determine risk indicators associated with dental fluorosis. A backward elimination using a likelihood ratio test was employed to determine the final regression model. STATA version 17 was used for the analysis. Results: Two hundred and thirty-nine pupils were sampled (response rate of 83%) from the four school zones of Naivasha sub county: Central (36.3%), Longonot (21.4%), Maiela (15.4%) and Maraigushu (26.9%). Two hundred and one of the respondents were included in the data analysis because of age constraint of the CPQ 11-14 OHRQOL questionnaire. The mean age of the participants sampled was 13.0 (SD=0.9). The sampled population was made up of 56.2% (n=113) female and 43.8% (n=86) male participants. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in the sampled population was very high at 98.5%. Overall, the mean TF score for dental fluorosis in the sample population was 6.5 (SD=2.0). The relationship between dental fluorosis (TF score) and OHRQOL (CPQ 11-14) was statistically significant.