Prevalence and associated determinants of oral health conditions among sicklers aged 10-18 in Western Kenya

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) contributes substantially to oral health problems among children in Kisumu County, where a cross-sectional study of 355 children aged 10–18 years found high rates of dental caries (40%) and plaque (98%), with most lesions untreated and nearly 70% exhibiting moderate to severe plaque. Limited dental care emerged as a major issue: 79.4% had never visited a dentist, only 6.2% had received professional cleaning, and 89.6% faced barriers such as cost and inaccessibility. Caries were significantly associated with poor facility access and personal motivation for oral health, while plaque and DMFT scores were linked to caregiver occupation, brushing frequency, fluoride use, and dental visit history. Overall, the findings highlight a severe burden of preventable oral health conditions among children with SCD, underscoring the need to integrate oral health services and education into routine SCD care.

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