RCT on Effectiveness of Oral Health Preventive Programmes in School Children in Uganda

Dental caries represents a challenge for Oral Health Services in several African Countries, like Uganda. Few studies have been reported the burden of oral health, its prevention and non-operative treatment among school children in African countries. Aim: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of dental caries and the effectiveness of strategies to prevent and treat dental caries using a non-operative approach among children in Gulu Municipality, Uganda. Methods: The proposal RCT is structured in three phases: 1. A descriptive cross-sectional survey to collect oral data among 610 school children selected using a multistage cluster sampling; 2. A randomized unblinded two-arm trial to assess the difference in the treatment/prevention of dental caries using non-operative means among school children in the Ugandian Gulu municipality; and 3. A comparison of oral health conditions between a group of children who will be given dental cleaning tools and followed up over time versus a control group. The oral health status of the participants will be assessed according to WHO and ICDAS guidelines. Stata 14.0. will be used for analysis; descriptive statistics will be carried out to analyze continuous and categorical variables and chi-square test as well as independent tests for bivariate analysis and modified poisson regression. In addition, the factors associated with dental caries will be determined by linear regression models using a statistical significance level of 5% (α = 0.05). Discussion: This trial will be the first trial conducted in Uganda assessing a school-based caries prevention programme using the WHO and ICDAS standardized international guidelines. The findings obtained will increase knowledge on oral health in Uganda school children and the effectiveness of community-based caries prevention programme in this population.