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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Feb 12;26(1):21.
doi: 10.1186/s12199-021-00943-3.

Dental caries and associated factors in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Tesfu Zewdu  1 , Duresa Abu  2 , Mulatu Agajie  2 , Tamiru Sahilu  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Dental caries and associated factors in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Tesfu Zewdu et al. Environ Health Prev Med. .

Abstract

Background: Globally, dental caries may be a major public health issue which may be preventable. Many studies have been conducted on dental caries in Ethiopia which present inconsistent results.

Objective: This meta-analysis was expected to consolidate the findings conducted in various regions of the country and generate country representative information on the burden and its associated factors of dental caries in Ethiopia.

Methods: Our systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to estimate the pooled prevalence of dental caries and its associated factors in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Medical specialty databases like ScienceDirect, HINARI, Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library were consistently and exhaustively searched. To determine the aggregate prevalence, studies delineating the prevalence of dental caries and associated factors were included. Important data were extracted employing a standardized data extraction tool ready in Microsoft Excel and imported to the STATA version-13 statistical software package for analyses. To assess non-uniformity, the Cochrane Q test statistics and I2 test were performed respectively. A random effects model meta-analysis was accustomed to estimate the pooled burden of dental caries.

Results: The result of thirteen studies disclosed that the overall prevalence of dental caries in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was found to be 40.98 (31.62, 50.34). Within the subgroup analysis, the uppermost prevalence was determined in Tigray region (46.59% (24.64, 68.54)) whereas the bottom prevalence was determined in Addis Ababa (34.20% (8.42, 59.97)). Dental caries prevalence was considerably high among study subjects who consumed sweet food (OR= 2.4 (95% CI (1.91, 3.01))). But the presence of dental plaque (OR = 5.14 (95% CI (0.67, 39.39))) and habit of tooth- cleaning (OR = 0.71 (95% CI (0.17, 2.96))) were not statistically significant with the outcome of interest.

Conclusion: Our meta-analysis found that the prevalence of dental caries was comparatively high, and sweet food consumption was the most risk issue for dental caries in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health ought to offer a lot of attention to strengthen the oral health care system and also the implementation of community-level interference programs.

Keywords: Dental caries; Ethiopia; Meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PIRSMA flowchart diagram of selected studies for meta-analysis, Ethiopia
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot revealing overall prevalence of dental caries in Ethiopia
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot showing the subgroup analysis of dental caries in Ethiopia by region. *Others: studies conducted in Oromia, Harar town, and SNNPR
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Output of sensitivity analysis of 13 studies
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Funnel plot test for publication bias, Ethiopia
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Trim and fill analysis for correcting publication bias of 13 studies
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Forest plot revealing associate factors of dental caries in Ethiopia, 2000–2020
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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