Prevalence of tooth decay and related factors among primary school children in central–eastern Tunisia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries and its associated factors among primary school children in Tunisia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children enrolled in primary schools in Sousse, Tunisia, in April 2022. A systematic random sampling technique was used. A structured questionnaire and medical records were used to collect data. A multivariate analysis was performed using binary logistic regression to identify factors independently associated with dental caries. Results: In total, 376 children were included. The prevalence of dental caries was 43.9%. Based on a bivariate analysis, many factors were associated with dental caries, such as children from public schools (p < 0.001), lack of tooth brushing (p < 0.001), tooth brushing only 1 time per day (p < 0.001), unhealthy eating habits (p ≤ 0.05), and overweight body mass index (p = 0.016). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for dental caries were age and eating after brushing in the evening, whereas protective factors included frequent tooth brushing and regular toothbrush replacement. Conclusions: We recommend organizing awareness days in schools, implementing programs on preventive measures against dental caries, and expanding screening campaigns.