Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

4 questions · 43 findings · 2 reviews

Sort:Best matchNewest Highest certainty Download CSV

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 43 · 100%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)

Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa

Pooled ECC prevalence in Tunisia was 38% (95% CI 24-51), significantly lower than Egypt and Sudan.

10 findings from 1 review

Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
Tunisia · Country: Tunisia
Prevalence 38 [24, 51]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa · Sample size <500
Prevalence 48 [39, 58]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
Sudan · Country: Sudan
Prevalence 63 [52, 74]
3 studies
GRADE not reported

Show 7 more findings

Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa · Sample size >500
Prevalence 65 [55, 75]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa · Publication-bias adjusted (trim-and-fill)
Prevalence 62 [58, 81]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
Egypt · Country: Egypt
Prevalence 62 [53, 70]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa (Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco); community, school, and hospital-based · Overall (all included studies)
Prevalence 57 [50, 64]
18 studies · 11319 participants
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa · Sampling: convenience
Prevalence 60
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa · Sampling: stratified/multistage cluster
Prevalence 50 [40, 61]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa · Sampling: simple random
Prevalence 67
5 studies
GRADE not reported

Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)

Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)

Pooled ECC prevalence in Europe was 36% (95% CI 25-47).

16 findings from 1 review

A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Europe · Region: Europe
Prevalence 36 [25, 47]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with 71-75 years life expectancy · Life expectancy: 71-75 years
Prevalence 62
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI >$40000 · GNI >$40000
Prevalence 47 [32, 62]
14 studies
GRADE not reported

Show 13 more findings

A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with no income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: no inequality
Prevalence 62
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Africa · Region: Africa
Prevalence 42 [32, 53]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Asia-Oceania · Region: Asia-Oceania
Prevalence 52 [45, 60]
33 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
49 countries worldwide; urban and rural communities · Overall (all regions)
Prevalence 49 [44, 55]
67 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI $10000-$19999 · GNI $10000-$19999
Prevalence 55 [42, 68]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with low income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: low inequality
Prevalence 39
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with highest life expectancy · Life expectancy: highest (>80 years)
Prevalence 28
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI $5000-$9999 · GNI $5000-$9999
Prevalence 53 [41, 65]
14 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Middle East · Region: Middle East
Prevalence 72 [58, 85]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
North America · Region: North America
Prevalence 57 [36, 77]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Central/South America · Region: Central/South America
Prevalence 34 [20, 48]
6 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI $20000-$39999 · GNI $20000-$39999
Prevalence 30 [22, 38]
11 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI <$5000 · GNI <$5000
Prevalence 57 [47, 67]
19 studies
GRADE not reported

Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)

Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)

Mean dmft was lowest (1.62 teeth) in low-inequality countries by Gini index.

16 findings from 1 review

A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with low income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: low inequality
MEAN 1.62
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Middle East · Region: Middle East
MEAN 5.53 [3.94, 7.13]
6 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Africa · Region: Africa
MEAN 3.47 [1.37, 5.56]
3 studies
GRADE not reported

Show 13 more findings

A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI >$40000 · GNI >$40000
MEAN 3.34 [1.79, 4.88]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI <$5000 · GNI <$5000
MEAN 4.64 [3.38, 5.91]
19 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Asia-Oceania · Region: Asia-Oceania
MEAN 3.87 [2.84, 4.91]
30 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
North America · Region: North America
MEAN 3.89 [1.62, 6.16]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI $10000-$19999 · GNI $10000-$19999
MEAN 4.04 [2.39, 5.68]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with 71-75 years life expectancy · Life expectancy: 71-75 years
MEAN 5.18
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI $5000-$9999 · GNI $5000-$9999
MEAN 4.28 [2.58, 5.97]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with no income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: no inequalities
MEAN 3.95
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Central/South America · Region: Central/South America
MEAN 3.08 [2.42, 3.74]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
49 countries worldwide; urban and rural communities · Overall (all regions)
MEAN 3.68 [2.99, 4.37]
60 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
GNI $20000-$39999 · GNI $20000-$39999
MEAN 1.13 [0.72, 1.55]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Europe · Region: Europe
MEAN 2.26 [0.69, 3.82]
11 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes
Countries with highest life expectancy (>80 years) · Life expectancy: >80 years
MEAN 1.34
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)

Mean dmft (caries severity) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa

The pooled mean dmft was 2.95 (95% CI 1.86-4.67), with very high heterogeneity (I2=99.7%).

1 finding from 1 review

Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomes
North Africa · Overall
MEAN 2.95 [1.86, 4.67]
13 studies
GRADE not reported