Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 113 | Published: 14 Oct 2026
1Department of Community Health, Amref International University, Nairobi, Kenya, 2Department of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
&Corresponding author: Cliffland Mosoti, Department of Community Health, Amref International University, Nairobi, Kenya, Email: mosoticliffland@gmail.com
Received: 11 Maar 2026, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 14 Mar 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Sickle cell disease, oral health, dental caries, oral hygiene, integrated care
©Cliffland Mosoti et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Cliffland Mosoti et al., Oral health burden and associated factors in sickle cell disease: A case for integrating oral health into routine SCD care. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):113. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-00113
Adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) are vulnerable to oral health problems due to chronic illness, socioeconomic disadvantage, and limited access to preventive dental services. Despite the substantial burden of SCD in western Kenya, oral health remains poorly integrated into routine SCD care. This study assessed the burden and associated factors of oral health conditions among adolescents with SCD in Kisumu County, Kenya.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 adolescents aged 10–18 years with SCD attending six specialised clinics in Kisumu County. Participants were selected using systematic sampling. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires and clinical oral examinations. Dental caries was assessed using the DMFT/dmft index and oral hygiene using Turesky’s modified plaque index. Descriptive statistics and regression models were used for analysis.
Dental caries prevalence was 40.0%, while 98.0% of participants had visible plaque and 68.7% had moderate-to-severe plaque accumulation. The mean DMFT score was 1.09 ± 1.41, largely attributable to untreated decay. Most participants (79.4%) had never visited a dentist; only 6.2% had received professional dental cleaning, and 89.6% reported barriers to oral healthcare, mainly treatment costs and limited service availability. Poor oral health was significantly associated with limited access to dental services, socioeconomic status, infrequent toothbrushing, and caregiver occupation.
There is a substantial burden of oral disease associated with behavioural, socioeconomic, and healthcare access factors. Integrating oral health education, routine screening, preventive services, and referral pathways into SCD care could strengthen comprehensive management and improve access to timely oral healthcare.
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