Syria Profile of the Epidemiology and Management of Early Childhood Caries Before and During the Time of Crisis

Abstract

Syria has witnessed the greatest humanitarian crisis of forcibly displaced population since World War II. The present review aimed to outline Syria's profile of the epidemiology and management of early childhood caries (ECC). Before the crisis, the burden of ECC amongst Syrian pre-schoolers had been growing in prevalence and severity. Comparable data showed an increase in the burden of ECC amongst Syrian children aged five years, rising from 74% in 1991 to 81% in 2011, with a dmft value of 8.6. A similar increase was observed in the burden of ECC amongst Syrian children aged three years, rising from 50% in 1991 to 56% in 2011, with a dmft value of 6.1. Whilst there are no data on the burden of ECC during the current crisis, estimates could be extrapolated from data on the current burden of dental caries amongst Syrian primary school children living inside Syria or in informal settlements outside Syria. Such data suggested that the burden of ECC might have further increased amongst Syrian pre-schoolers during the crisis time. This is due to the crisis exacerbating effect on ECC risk factors, in terms of increasing the existing high sugar intake amongst Syrian pre-schoolers as well as increasing different barriers Syrian families face to fresh foods, sugar-free medicines, oral hygiene and fluoride products and accessing essential preventative dental care. Tackling the growing burden of ECC amongst Syrian pre-schoolers should not be postponed till post-crisis time. The seed work for relevant public health interventions could start and be embedded in different health and social initiatives taking place during the time of crisis. A number of public health interventions informed by relevant international and local (Syrian) studies conducted during the time of crisis have been suggested to tackle the burden of ECC amongst Syrian young children. They include a mix of upstream, midstream, and downstream interventions that aim to reduce sugar intake, improve feeding and oral hygiene practices, increase access to an appropriate source of fluoride and build the capacity of the Syrian dental and wider workforce to tackle the growing burden of ECC in Syrian pre-schoolers.

The oral health of refugees: Issues and challenges arising from a case series analysis

“…Refugees suffer high rates of dental disease, which has a significant impact on the quality of their life and a high economic burden on the health system in the hosting countries 4,9,16,17 . The dental health of refugees has also been shown to differ markedly between populations, 9,17 which varies with the demographics of the migrating population, prevalence of disease, quality of health services before displacement, living conditions during displacement, length of time without appropriate health care and limited availability and accessibility to dental health services 17,18 .…”

“…Refugees face many difficulties when seeking healthcare services. These include poverty, discrimination and fragmented families 4 . In addition, a lack of adequately trained and understanding healthcare providers, facilities and a shortage of available funding for health services may limit their accessibility to appropriate health care 1,5 .…”

Oral Health Assessment in A Sample of Displaced People as A Result of The War on Syria In Damascus City: Results of Non-Profit Initiative

“…[22] In a 2019 study of oral hygiene in Syria carried out by Aster, the DMFT values for children aged 5 years in 2011 were (8.6), while children aged 3 years in 2013 were (6.1); These DMFT values are higher compared to the DMFT values in this study, which recorded a total value in children (< 14 years) (2.12). [24] In In a study in Damascus in 2009 by Dashash, the values were as following for children aged 5 years, the dmft (3.27); While the value of DMFT in this study in children (less than 14 years old) was (2.12). [27] And in a study in Syria in 2008 by both Hindawi and Qushji, the values were as following: Children aged 6-7 years were the dmft (3.13), children aged 6-7 years old, the DMFT was (0.05; while the value of DMFT in this study was in children) Less than 14 years) (2.12) [10] While comparing the results of this study with the studies conducted in the Arab world, we nd: (2.12).…”

Oral Health Status and Dental Problems Among the Refugees in Karatepe Refugee Camp in Lesvos, Greece: a Cross-sectional Study

“…The camps in Greece are have worse condition for the refugees as the process of each application take long time which negatively affect the overall wellbeing and mental status of the residents (5). And currently there is a major concern regarding access to dental treatment as the refugees lack access to basic health services (20).…”