What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to evaluate specific oral health conditions affecting the quality of life in Tanzanian adolescents.

March 23, 2026Open Access

Prevalence of Dental Caries, Fluorosis, Trauma, Gingivitis, and Malocclusion on Adolescents’ Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life: A Tanzania National Survey

HMHawa Shariff MbawallaMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences KNKasusu Nyamuryekung’eMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences MMMatilda MtayaMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Key Points

The research aims to evaluate specific oral health conditions affecting the quality of life in Tanzanian adolescents.
National pathfinder survey with 1478 children aged 12 and 15 years
Used WHO basic oral health survey methods for data collection
Examined for dental conditions including caries, gingivitis, malocclusion, trauma, and fluorosis
Collected sociodemographic data using questionnaires
Analyzed data using chi-square and multivariable analysis methods
24.8% of children reported at least one oral impact
Difficulty in eating and chewing was the most common impact at 19.6%
Higher prevalence of oral impacts in children with dental caries (38.7%) and malocclusion (24.6%)
Malocclusion lost significance in association with oral impacts when adjusted for other factors

Abstract

Introduction Oral impact on daily performance (OIDP) portrays perceived dimensions of the impact of oral diseases and conditions. Hence, understanding these personal experiences of the consequences of oral diseases has the potential to guide the prioritization of oral health interventions. Objectives This study aimed to outline child‐OIDP and determine specific oro‐dental performance affected by the specific oral condition in a national pathfinder survey of a sample of 12‐ and 15‐year‐old Tanzania populations. Methods This was a national pathfinder survey involving 1478 children aged 12 (48.2%) and 15 (51.8%) years, selected according to WHO basic oral health survey methods (2013). Data was collected from 14 districts within mainland Tanzania, whereby children were examined for dental caries, gingivitis, different forms of malocclusion, trauma, and dental fluorosis. A questionnaire was used to gather data on sociodemographics and child‐OIDP items. Frequency distributions were determined, and bivariate associations were done using Chi‐square. Multivariable analysis was performed using modified Poisson regression models with robust variance estimators. Adjusted prevalence ratio and 95% confidence intervals were determined. A p ‐value of 0.05 was considered significant. Results Prevalence of reporting at least one impact was 24.8% (356). The most commonly reported impact was difficulty in eating and chewing at 19.6% (289). The proportion of children reporting at least having one OIDP was statistically higher among those who had dental caries (38.7%, p = 0.001), malocclusion (24.6%, p = 0.026), and gingivitis (28.8%, p = 0.001), as well as dental trauma (38.4%, p = 0.006). After adjusting for all other factors, the odds of having at least one oral impact among those with malocclusion lost statistical significance. Conclusion A marked number of children revealed to have oral impacts and the scores varied with oral diseases and conditions in the expected direction. Those with dental caries experienced difficulties in most of the OIDP individual items.

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