Prevalence of Dental Caries Among 6-11-Year-Olds in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of dental caries among 6-11-year-old children in Nigeria and its distribution by sex, socioeconomic status, and geopolitical zones. Method: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) to identify relevant studies published between 2012 and 2022. Cohort, cross-sectional, and observational studies reporting dental caries prevalence data among 6-11-year-olds in Nigeria were included. Using the random effects model, prevalence was analysed based on sex, socioeconomic status, and the country's six geopolitical zones. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of dental caries. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model, and study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023396948). Results: Data were pooled from 8 of 1237 screened articles. The pooled prevalence of dental caries was 1.5% (95% CI: -1.2-4.1). Prevalence was higher among males (1.5%, 95% CI: -1.4-4.3) compared to females (1.4%, 95% CI: -1.6-4.4). It was 0.1% (95% CI: -1.0-1.1) among those with high socioeconomic status, 0.2% (95% CI: -1.6 to 1.9) among those with middle socioeconomic status, and 0.6% (95% CI: -2.8 to 3.9) among those with low socioeconomic status. The prevalence also ranged from 1.1% (95% CI: -1.8 to 4.1) in southwest, 1.1% (95% CI: -5.4 to 7.6) in south-south, 2.3% (95% CI: -7.1 to 11.6) in southeast, and 2.3% (95% CI: -7.1 to 11.7) in northwest. Conclusions: Caries intervention among adolescents in Nigeria may need to be tailored to address the observed sex, socioeconomic status, and geopolitical zone disparities.