Pattern of utilization of dental services at Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Northwest Nigeria

Sahel Medical Journal

关键词: Demand;    dental care services;    dental caries;    dental treatment;    dental utilization;    tooth extraction;    utilization;   

DOI  :  10.4103/1118-8561.140294

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Oral health has been demonstrated to be an integral component of general health, with a serious impact on the quality of life and the overall well-being. Dental care utilization is an indispensable facilitator of oral health. Reports from the African continent highlight poor utilization of dental services across urban and rural populations. Hence, this study aims to determine the use of dental services by patients attending the dental clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Katsina between January 2011 and December 2012. Materials and Methods: The patients′ records were retrieved and analyzed for demographic data, diagnosis, and treatment. Results: During the 2-year study period, a total of 2021 patients [1083 (53.6%) males and 938 (46.4%) females] were treated. The age of the patients ranged from 4 months to 94 years [mean ± standard deviation (SD) =28.6 years ± 16.2; median 28 years]. Approximately 80% of the patients were below the age of 40 years, with 21-30 years age group recording the highest frequency (28%). Most of the patients had caries and its sequelae, followed by periodontal disease (n = 352, 17.4%). Restorative and surgical procedures (n = 808, 40%) were the major treatment utilized by this cohort, with periodontal procedure trailing (n = 3951, 8.6%). Tooth extraction (n = 755, 37.3%) was the primary treatment accessed, followed by amalgam filling (n = 651, 32.2%) and scaling/polishing (n = 355, 17.6%). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate preponderance of male gender and young age group in the utilization of dental services among the study population. Tooth extraction was the most frequently provided dental treatment. We recommend preventive oral care as a means of reducing dental burden in the center.

【 授权许可】

Unknown