Doha: More than half the children between 12 and 15 years in Qatar suffer from tooth decay, a health survey has found.
The first National Oral Health Survey conducted by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) shows that the percent of caries in children is very high, with seven out of 10 children aged six affected by it.
The survey was conducted as per standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and aimed to find the status of oral and dental health in the country.
Dr Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani, SCH Public Health Director, said that a sample of 3,248 out of 4,200 students aged six, 12 and 15 in government and private schools was selected to be included in the survey, which had a response rate of 81 percent.
More than 50 percent of those surveyed were found to be affected by caries. The problem was also found to be more prevalent among Qatari children compared with non-Qatari children.
Sheikha Al Anoud bint Mohammed Al Thani, Manager of Health Promotion and Noncommunicable Diseases at SCH, said that the cases of tooth decay were higher among girls than boys.
The number of children affected by caries was also seen higher among students in government schools than those in international or private schools. Sheikha Al Anoud added that the high percent of cases with gum infections reflects lack of proper oral and dental health.
The survey was conducted in collaboration with SCH, Supreme Education Council, Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Healthcare Corporation, in addition to WHO and its Centre for Studies at Copenhagen University.
Dr Al Thani said that as per the goals set by WHO, at least 50 percent of children aged six have to be free from caries and the rate of prevalence of caries to be no more than three among children aged 12.
He said that the survey showed that Qatar still has to achieve the first goal as only 30 percent of children aged six are free from caries in the country.
The SCH plans to work with all concerned government entities on the issue and launch a dental examination within school admission requirements and review the status of dental clinics in the country.
Sheikha Al Anoud said that the survey is very important as it will contribute to achieving the National Health Strategy and creating an accurate healthcare database based on scientific surveys conducted in accordance with international standards.
QNA & The Peninsula
