Early childhood caries and associated risk factors in tunis: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) in the Tunis region, and to identify the associated risk factors. Although primarily epidemiological, the findings may support the development of evidence-based preventive and educational strategies in pediatric oral health at the national level.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in kindergartens in the Tunis and Ariana regions between January and May 2023. The study involved 359 children aged 3 to 5 years. Data collection included dental examinations to determine the prevalence of ECC and S-ECC, as well as structured questionnaires specifically developed for the children's parents or legal guardians. These questionnaires gathered detailed information on demographic and socio-economic factors (such as parental education level and birth weight), children's oral hygiene and dietary habits, and medical history. The collected data were then analysed to identify potential associations with dental caries.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ECC was 28.7%, whilst the prevalence of S-ECC was 14.2%. The mean dmft (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) score was 3.89. Statistically significant associations with caries were observed for parental education level and birth weight.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in the Tunis region was found to be 28.7%, while Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) affected 14.2% of children aged 3 to 5 years. This prevalence is higher than the 20% reported in Monastir in 2022 (Chouchene et al., Front Public Health 10: 821128, 2022), but lower than the 45% reported in the Sousse region in 2020 (Chamli et al., J Paediatr Dent 6: 39, 2020). These findings highlight regional disparities in ECC burden across Tunisia and underscore the need for region-specific preventive and educational strategies. The significant prevalence of ECC and S-ECC observed in this study emphasizes the importance of early intervention and enhanced parental education to improve oral health outcomes in children.