Oral health status of children and adults in the Republic of Niger, Africa

The present study was undertaken in order to describe the oral health statu s of children and adults in the Republic of Niger and to provide baseline d ata for the organisation and evaluation of systematic oral health promotion programmes in the country. The WHO pathfinder sampling procedures were app lied to obtain representative samples of the following age groups: 6 years (n=373); 12 years (n=400); 18 years (n=300) and 35-44 years (n=400). Data w ere collected in 1997 according to the WHO methods, including information o n dental caries and CPITN. In 6-year-olds, 56 per cent had caries and a mea n score of 1.3 DMFT was observed among the 12-year-olds; the 35-44-year-old s had an average score of 5.7 DMFT. Differences in dental caries prevalence were found according to sex, province and urbanisation. Ninety-nine per ce nt of individuals at age 18, and 87 per cent at age 35-44 had maximum CPITN score 2 (calculus). Where 6- and 35-44-year-olds are concerned, the data m ay indicate increasing levels of dental caries. The implementation of prima ry prevention and community-based oral health education is therefore a matt er of urgency.