Dental caries and dental health behaviour situation among 6- and 12-year-old urban schoolchildren in Madagascar.

The report presents the findings of a survey carried our among 153 6-year-old and 164 12-year-old children in Antananarivo, Madagascar. A very high level of dental caries was observed (6 years: 7.1 dmft; 12 years: 4.4 DMFT). Personal interviews with the mothers (n = 235) showed a frequent consumption of sugar and poor oral hygiene habits among the children. Relatively few of the mothers helped their children in oral cleaning and the need for improvement in dental knowledge and attitudes was outlined. A total of 62 school teachers responded to self-administered questionnaires and a relatively high level of dental knowledge and positive attitudes to prevention were found. Thus, the teachers should be considered highly relevant key persons in dental health education for children and mothers. The survey forms the base-line for evaluation of school-based preventive oral care in Madagascar.