Oral Health on Sal, Cape Verde: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study

Catherine M C Volgenant; Hans J J de Soet; Trynke Hoekstra; Denise Duijster

doi:10.1016/j.identj.2026.109677

Oral Health on Sal, Cape Verde: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Sal is one of the ten islands of Cape Verde, a lower-middle-income country in Africa. Local reports suggest poor oral health among residents, but no scientific data exists. This study aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Sal's dentulous inhabitants, identify risk factors associated with oral health, and explore correlations between oral health and OHRQoL in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among dentulous Sal residents. Final-year dental students from the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Faculty of Dentistry in Amsterdam, performed duplicate oral health examinations. Outcomes included caries experience (dmft/DMFT), consequences of untreated caries (pufa/PUFA), and periodontal health (DPSI; in adults only). Data on brushing frequency, toothbrush ownership, toothpaste availability, dental visits, dental insurance, and tobacco use (adults only) were collected. Adults completed the OHIP-14 questionnaire (OHRQoL). Descriptive statistics summarized characteristics; multivariable regressions assessed associations.

RESULTS: A total of 1,371 dentulous residents participated (609 children aged 1-17 years; 762 adults aged 18-89 years). Caries prevalence was 87.5% and pufa/PUFA 52.2%. Mean dmft/DMFT was 3.7 ± 3.2 (children) and 7.5 ± 6.2 (adults). 63.1% had DPSI maximum-scores ≥3+ (periodontal disease). Toothbrush ownership was high (>96%), access to toothpaste (<90%) and dental insurance was limited (children 63%; adults 46%). Dental insurance was associated with lower dmft/DMFT (p = .019) and lower pufa/PUFA (p = .005). Higher DMFT, PUFA, and severe periodontal disease was associated with poorer OHRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral health among Sal's residents is poor, with a high disease burden and limited access to care. Improving preventive strategies and access to dental services is important to reduce disease prevalence and enhance quality of life.

Original language	English
Article number	109677
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	International Dental Journal
Volume	76
Issue number	4
Early online date	11 Jun 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2026.109677
Publication status	Published - Aug 2026

Bibliographical note

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the local municipality of Sal and the foundation Intercambios International for their invaluable assistance in facilitating this research. We would like to thank The Borrow Foundation for financially supporting this study. We are grateful to the final-year dental students from ACTA for their help with the oral examinations. Above all, we thank all the residents who generously participated in this study. The data of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Funders
Borrow Foundation
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada

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@article{fed5efc49f4a4fa2903e46652585b087,

title = "Oral Health on Sal, Cape Verde: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: Sal is one of the ten islands of Cape Verde, a lower-middle-income country in Africa. Local reports suggest poor oral health among residents, but no scientific data exists. This study aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Sal's dentulous inhabitants, identify risk factors associated with oral health, and explore correlations between oral health and OHRQoL in adults.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among dentulous Sal residents. Final-year dental students from the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Faculty of Dentistry in Amsterdam, performed duplicate oral health examinations. Outcomes included caries experience (dmft/DMFT), consequences of untreated caries (pufa/PUFA), and periodontal health (DPSI; in adults only). Data on brushing frequency, toothbrush ownership, toothpaste availability, dental visits, dental insurance, and tobacco use (adults only) were collected. Adults completed the OHIP-14 questionnaire (OHRQoL). Descriptive statistics summarized characteristics; multivariable regressions assessed associations.RESULTS: A total of 1,371 dentulous residents participated (609 children aged 1-17 years; 762 adults aged 18-89 years). Caries prevalence was 87.5\% and pufa/PUFA 52.2\%. Mean dmft/DMFT was 3.7 ± 3.2 (children) and 7.5 ± 6.2 (adults). 63.1\% had DPSI maximum-scores ≥3+ (periodontal disease). Toothbrush ownership was high (>96\%), access to toothpaste (<90\%) and dental insurance was limited (children 63\%; adults 46\%). Dental insurance was associated with lower dmft/DMFT (p = .019) and lower pufa/PUFA (p = .005). Higher DMFT, PUFA, and severe periodontal disease was associated with poorer OHRQoL.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral health among Sal's residents is poor, with a high disease burden and limited access to care. Improving preventive strategies and access to dental services is important to reduce disease prevalence and enhance quality of life.",

author = "Volgenant, \{Catherine M C\} and \{de Soet\}, \{Hans J J\} and Trynke Hoekstra and Denise Duijster",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1016/j.identj.2026.109677",

language = "English",

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journal = "International Dental Journal",

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T1 - Oral Health on Sal, Cape Verde

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AU - Volgenant, Catherine M C

AU - de Soet, Hans J J

AU - Hoekstra, Trynke

AU - Duijster, Denise

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N2 - OBJECTIVES: Sal is one of the ten islands of Cape Verde, a lower-middle-income country in Africa. Local reports suggest poor oral health among residents, but no scientific data exists. This study aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Sal's dentulous inhabitants, identify risk factors associated with oral health, and explore correlations between oral health and OHRQoL in adults.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among dentulous Sal residents. Final-year dental students from the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Faculty of Dentistry in Amsterdam, performed duplicate oral health examinations. Outcomes included caries experience (dmft/DMFT), consequences of untreated caries (pufa/PUFA), and periodontal health (DPSI; in adults only). Data on brushing frequency, toothbrush ownership, toothpaste availability, dental visits, dental insurance, and tobacco use (adults only) were collected. Adults completed the OHIP-14 questionnaire (OHRQoL). Descriptive statistics summarized characteristics; multivariable regressions assessed associations.RESULTS: A total of 1,371 dentulous residents participated (609 children aged 1-17 years; 762 adults aged 18-89 years). Caries prevalence was 87.5% and pufa/PUFA 52.2%. Mean dmft/DMFT was 3.7 ± 3.2 (children) and 7.5 ± 6.2 (adults). 63.1% had DPSI maximum-scores ≥3+ (periodontal disease). Toothbrush ownership was high (>96%), access to toothpaste (<90%) and dental insurance was limited (children 63%; adults 46%). Dental insurance was associated with lower dmft/DMFT (p = .019) and lower pufa/PUFA (p = .005). Higher DMFT, PUFA, and severe periodontal disease was associated with poorer OHRQoL.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral health among Sal's residents is poor, with a high disease burden and limited access to care. Improving preventive strategies and access to dental services is important to reduce disease prevalence and enhance quality of life.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Sal is one of the ten islands of Cape Verde, a lower-middle-income country in Africa. Local reports suggest poor oral health among residents, but no scientific data exists. This study aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Sal's dentulous inhabitants, identify risk factors associated with oral health, and explore correlations between oral health and OHRQoL in adults.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among dentulous Sal residents. Final-year dental students from the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Faculty of Dentistry in Amsterdam, performed duplicate oral health examinations. Outcomes included caries experience (dmft/DMFT), consequences of untreated caries (pufa/PUFA), and periodontal health (DPSI; in adults only). Data on brushing frequency, toothbrush ownership, toothpaste availability, dental visits, dental insurance, and tobacco use (adults only) were collected. Adults completed the OHIP-14 questionnaire (OHRQoL). Descriptive statistics summarized characteristics; multivariable regressions assessed associations.RESULTS: A total of 1,371 dentulous residents participated (609 children aged 1-17 years; 762 adults aged 18-89 years). Caries prevalence was 87.5% and pufa/PUFA 52.2%. Mean dmft/DMFT was 3.7 ± 3.2 (children) and 7.5 ± 6.2 (adults). 63.1% had DPSI maximum-scores ≥3+ (periodontal disease). Toothbrush ownership was high (>96%), access to toothpaste (<90%) and dental insurance was limited (children 63%; adults 46%). Dental insurance was associated with lower dmft/DMFT (p = .019) and lower pufa/PUFA (p = .005). Higher DMFT, PUFA, and severe periodontal disease was associated with poorer OHRQoL.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral health among Sal's residents is poor, with a high disease burden and limited access to care. Improving preventive strategies and access to dental services is important to reduce disease prevalence and enhance quality of life.

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DO - 10.1016/j.identj.2026.109677

M3 - Article

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Oral Health on Sal, Cape Verde: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

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Funding

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