Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38987729›Full record

SynthesisBMC oral health2024

Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among primary school children in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Amalku Nigussie Yirsaw, Eyob Ketema Bogale, Mitiku Tefera, Mahider Awoke Belay, Ayenew Takele Alemu, Solomon Ketema Bogale, Eyob Getachew, Getnet Alemu Andarge, Kedir Seid, Gebeyehu Lakew

Erratum issuedAbstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC oral health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Design of a Novel Peptide-Based Vaccine TargetingInternational journal of dentistry · 2026
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Amalku Nigussie YirsawHealth Promotion and Communication Department, School of public health, College of medicine and health sciences, Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia. amlakunigusie1616@gmail.com.
Eyob Ketema BogaleHealth Promotion and Behavioral science department, school of public health, College of medicine and health science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Mitiku TeferaDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Debre Birhan University, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.
Mahider Awoke BelayDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Ayenew Takele AlemuDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Solomon Ketema BogaleDepartment of Nutrition, Antsokiya Gemza wereda Health Office, Mekoy, MekoyNorth East, Ethiopia.
Eyob GetachewHealth Promotion and Communication Department, School of public health, College of medicine and health sciences, Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Getnet Alemu AndargeDepartment of Nutrition, Antsokiya Gemza wereda Health Office, Mekoy, MekoyNorth East, Ethiopia.
Kedir SeidBati Primary Hospital, Oromo Special Zone, Bati, North Central, Ethiopia.
Gebeyehu LakewHealth Promotion and Communication Department, School of public health, College of medicine and health sciences, Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDental caries (decay or cavities) is the breakdown of teeth as a result of bacteria. Dental caries is one of the most preventable oral health problems and the most common chronic disease in primary school children. Poor dental and oral health affects the quality of children's lives.

objectivesThe study aimed to synthesize the existing literature on the prevalence and associated factors of dental caries among primary school children in Ethiopia in 2024. METHODOLOGY: Studies were searched through the search engines of Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library. Searching was made using keywords and MeSH terms for dental caries, dental plaque, primary school children, and Ethiopia. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q test and I2 statistics. A random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval was used for prevalence and odds ratio estimations.

resultThe result of seven studies disclosed that the overall prevalence of dental caries in primary school children in Ethiopia was 35% (26-45%). high intake of sweets (OR = 2.71,95%CI:1.968-3.451), a poor habit of tooth cleaning (OR = 2.46; 95% CI: 2.761-5.045), Grade level 1-4(OR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.523-3.397), having a history of toothache(OR = 2.99; 95% CI: 2.679-3.314), absence of toothpaste use(OR = 1.42; 95% CI: -1.278-4.109), reduction of the previous year's academic score(OR = 5.51; 95% CI: 1.952-9.066), had a significant microbial load(OR = 3.82, CI: 3.439-4.192) and have acid bacillary pH on their teeth(OR = 2.42, CI: 1.494-3.335) were independent variables associated with dental carries among primary school children.

conclusionThe overall prevalence of dental caries among primary school children in Ethiopia is 35%, ranging from 26 to 45%. However, variations in prevalence rates are observed based on sampling techniques. Studies using simple random sampling report a higher prevalence rate of 42%, while those employing multi-stage random sampling and systematic random sampling show lower rates of 30% and 35%, respectively. This indicates that the choice of sampling technique can impact reported prevalence rates, with simple random sampling yielding higher estimates compared to other methods.

Indexed as

Dental CariesChildEthiopiaHumansPrevalenceRisk FactorsSchoolsDental cariesDental plaqueEthiopiaPrimary school children

Identifiers

PMID38987729
PMCPMC11238512

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.