Exploring the influences of altitude and fertilizers on fluorosis prevalence in Nigerian children

Dental fluorosis, an under reported public health problem the world over impacts 11.4% of the population in Nigeria. It is caused by successive exposure to high fluoride concentrations during tooth development and is linked to the development of a variety of psychological and physiological problems: dental aesthetics, reduction in intelligence and skeletal changes. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to explore the influences of altitude and use of fertilizers in cropping in the development of dental fluorosis in children in a rural community in Nigeria. A multilevel theoretical model was used to identify possible fluoride exposure pathways that impact childhood oral health. The study was guided by 2 main research questions: What is the prevalence of fluorosis among Nigerian school-aged children? What is the association of this prevalence with the prevailing influences of altitude and use of fertilizers in cropping? Data was collected by administering surveys, on children aged 5 to15 years and their parents/guardians. Chi-square tests were used to test for possible associations. The study findings showed a fluorosis prevalence rate of 86.6% in the 269 school children surveyed, with majority of these children between the ages of 8 to 13 years. There was no significant association of fluorosis prevalence with altitude in the population, however the association with the use of fertilizers requires further research. This study’s possible impact on social change include raising awareness to this problem as well encouraging the cautious use of fertilizers in cropping.