Investigating Dental Caries Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors Among Children Under 18 in Tripoli and Derna, Libya

الملخص

Despite existing studies on dental caries in children, limited research has comprehensively addressed the interplay of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, and environmental risk factors within the Libyan context, particularly in Tripoli and Derna. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of dental caries and the associated risk factors among children under 18 years in these cities, providing evidence-based insights for targeted interventions.

A cross-sectional survey design was employed, engaging 1,000 participants, equally divided between Tripoli and Derna, selected through convenience sampling. The study focused on children under 18 years, with parents completing the questionnaires for those aged under 16. The survey instrument was designed to assess demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, and risk factors associated with the prevalence and severity of dental caries. It addressed six hypotheses, exploring associations between caries prevalence and demographic variables, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, access to dental care, cultural influences, and clinical risk indicators. The questionnaire was rigorously tested for reliability and validity. Initially developed in English, it was translated into Arabic using the back-translation technique, ensuring linguistic precision and cultural relevance. Data collection spanned one year, incorporating paper-based forms distributed during dental visits and online links disseminated via platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. Statistical analyses, including descriptive and inferential methods, were conducted using SPSS version 28 to test the six hypotheses.

The study recruited 1,000 participants evenly distributed between Tripoli and Derna, with ages ranging from 3 to 18 years and a gender distribution of 55% male and 45% female. The findings revealed significant associations between demographic and socioeconomic factors, including parental education and family income, and dental caries prevalence (r(1000) = 0.215, p = 0.011). Oral hygiene practices, such as frequent tooth brushing and fluoride toothpaste use, were inversely correlated with caries severity (r(1000) = -0.187, p = 0.023). Dietary habits, including sugary snack consumption, were positively associated with caries, while non-sweet snacks were negatively correlated (r(1000) = 0.198, p = 0.009). Access to dental care and cultural practices also significantly influenced caries prevalence and severity.

The findings indicate that dental caries among children in Tripoli and Derna are shaped by complex interactions between socioeconomic factors, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, and access to dental care. These results highlight the potential for targeted interventions addressing these dimensions to improve paediatric oral health outcomes in Libya