Prevalence of dental caries and its associated factors among individuals aged 6–18 years attending Governorate hospitals in Jizan, KSA: a cross‑sectional study

Dental caries is a major global oral health concern, with a high prevalence among studied population, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), where rates can reach up to 80%. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries and its associated factors among individuals aged 6–18 years in the Jizan region of KSA. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 568 individuals attending dental clinics of governorate hospitals in Jizan. A simple random sampling method was used to select hospitals and participants. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, dental caries, oral health behaviors, feeding practices, and dietary factors were collected through questionnaires and clinical examinations using the WHO diagnostic criteria for dental caries. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 was used for data analysis. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was used as a measure of association, with 95% confidence interval (CI). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in multivariable regression. The median (interquartile range) age of the studied population was 13.0 years (9.0 and 17.0 years). The prevalence of dental caries among studied population in Jizan was 85.2%. Multivariable analysis revealed that several factors were statistically associated with the prevalence of dental caries: father’s education of high school level or below (aOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.14–3.93, p = 0.018), non-participation in a health program (aOR = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.68–5.46, p < 0.001), brushing teeth (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04–0.28, p < 0.001), never or occasional consumption of fruits and vegetables (aOR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.20–11.36, p = 0.023 and aOR = 14.29, 95% CI: 4.90–41.69, p < 0.001, respectively), and regular consumption of fast food (aOR = 40.13, 95% CI: 7.40–217.58, p < 0.001). Dental caries prevalence is high among studied population in Jizan, KSA. Low paternal education, non-participation in health programs, absence of tooth brushing, irregular consumption of fruits and vegetables, and regular fast food intake are significantly associated with dental caries. Public health strategies focusing on oral health education for parents and individuals, promoting tooth brushing, and increase fruit and vegetable intake are recommended.