SynthesisBMC oral health2025
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Early childhood caries in Africa: prevalence, determinants, and implications for oral health promotion-an umbrella review.Frontiers in oral health · 2026Pooled it
- Structural Embedding of Oral Health Within Pooled Universal Coverage Mechanisms: Where Are We in 2026?Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEarly childhood caries (ECC) is a significant public health concern, with its prevalence steadily increasing across Africa. However, the extent of North Africa's contribution to the global burden of ECC remains poorly understood. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify its risk factors in North Africa.
methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO on March 7th, 2025and examined studies published between 2000 and March 2025 on the prevalence and risk factors of ECC in North African countries. Five databases were searched. Eligible studies included cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control designs involving children aged 0-5 years. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study and population characteristics, ECC prevalence, mean dmft scores, and associated risk factors. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model, with heterogeneity assessed via Tau², I², and Cochran's Q test.
resultsOf the 1690 studies screened, 18 met the eligibility criteria. The pooled prevalence of ECC was 57% (95% CI: 50-64, p < 0.001), and the dmft was 2.95 (95% CI: 1.86-4.67). Marked heterogeneity was observed in the meta-analysis. The 16 risk factors associated with ECC were grouped into sociodemographic factors, dietary factors and habits, oral hygiene/health-related factors, and factors related to the oral microbiome (spoon sharing with household).
conclusionsThere is a high burden of ECC among children residing in North Africa. Local, national, and region-specific preventive policies targeting identified risk factors should be deployed to stem the tide of ECC in North Africa. PROSPERO REGISTRATION ID: CRD420251006590. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not Applicable.
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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.