Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oral health is a key public health priority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), yet the effectiveness of the existing programmes is unclear due to limited standardised data. AIM: To estimate schoolchildren caries prevalence across UAE over five academic years (2015-2019) and assess the associated factors. METHODS: Secondary data analysis from a national oral health screening, by the Ministry of Health and Prevention in government schools across six emirates. Students in Grade 1 (6-8 years old), Grade 7 (12-14 years old) and Grade 10 (15-17 years old) were screened between 2015 and 2019. RESULTS: A total of 131 451 students were screened. Overall caries prevalence was high at 60.9%, declining from 65.1% in 2015 to 49.19% in 2019 (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.49-0.53, p < 0.001, compared to 2015). Prevalence was the lowest in Dubai (55.2%), and the highest in Fujairah (75.0%, OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 2.46-2.67, p < 0.001, compared to Dubai). Grade 1 students had the highest prevalence (70.5%), while both Grade 7 (55.1%; OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.49-0.52; p < 0.001, compared to Grade 1) and Grade 10 (57.9%; OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.56-0.59; p < 0.001, compared to Grade 1) were the lowest. CONCLUSION: Dental caries remains highly prevalent among UAE schoolchildren, particularly in Fujairah and younger age groups. Standardised, integrated oral health policy and planning are instantly needed across the Emirates.