[Oral health status of Baka Pygmies in the city of Dimako, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study of 205 cases.]

Abstract

Introduction: the epidemiological profile of oral diseases is characterised by disparities between specific groups. The purpose of this study was to assess oral health status of Baka Pygmies in Dimako, Cameroon.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study from January 1 to June 14, 2021 in the Baka camps in Dimako. A total of 205 individuals aged 12 years and older were recruited using non-probabilistic, consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured, administered questionnaire then entered with CSPro 7.5, and analyzed with SPSS version 26. Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with oral diseases, using their Odds ratios and p-values. The significance threshold was set at 0.05.

Results: the most common diseases were dental caries and gingivitis, with prevalence rates of 80.4% and 64.8%, respectively. Factors associated with dental caries included age 12 to 25 years (adjusted OR=1.48; p=0.001), insufficient knowledge (adjusted OR=3.5; p=0.034), and inadequate practices (adjusted OR=1.8; p=0.013). Factors associated with gingivitis were primary education level (adjusted OR=5.2; p=0.04), approximate attitudes (adjusted OR=2.2; p=0.014) and harmful practices (adjusted OR=1.9; p=0.02).

Conclusion: dental caries and gingivitis are prevalent among the Baka Pygmies. It is necessary to strengthen their education and improve their access to oral healthcare.