Abstract
Background: Dental caries is a serious public health problem worldwide. Prevalence
of dental caries among school children has increased in both developed and developing
countries since the last few decades.
Objective: To determine the association of dental caries with socio demographic factors
among Libyan school children aged 8-12 years in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three Libyan primary schools in
Klang Valley, Malaysia. Five hundred and seventy children aged 8-12 years
participated. They were randomly selected using proportional stratified sampling
method. Dental caries was assessed using the WHO (1987) criteria.
Results: Response rate was 92.5%. The prevalence of dental caries was (55.8%),
females have higher dental caries than males. Dental caries was found highly prevalent
among; children their aged ≤10 years (64.7%), children whose father and mother have
a job (58.5% and 58.7%) respectively, children whose father and mother have
elementary level of education (69.6% and 61.0%) respectively. Chi square test showed
significant association of dental caries with age group and father’s education level.
Logistic regression analysis identified young age (OR=11.78, 95% Cl: 2.305 -26.276)
was significant predictor of dental caries among children.
Conclusions: Younger children are at higher risk of having dental caries in this study.
Health education should be emphasized among younger Libyan school children.
