Evaluation of Oral Hygiene-Related Mobile Apps for Children in Sub-Saharan Africa

Aida Kanoute, Florence Carrouel, Jocelyne Gare, Serigne Ndame Dieng, Amadou Dieng, Mbathio Diop, Daouda Faye, Laurie Fraticelli and Denis Bourgeois ()
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Aida Kanoute: Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
Florence Carrouel: Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
Jocelyne Gare: Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
Serigne Ndame Dieng: Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
Amadou Dieng: Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
Mbathio Diop: Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
Daouda Faye: Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
Laurie Fraticelli: Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
Denis Bourgeois: Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, oral health is a real epidemiological challenge. Mobile applications represent a hope for the learning of oral hygiene in children and the fight against oral diseases. This study overviews and assesses the quality of mobile applications linked to oral hygiene for children currently featured on the iOS and Android stores in sub-Saharan Africa. Ten oral health professionals (OHP) used the French Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS-F) to rate 15 selected applications. The highest MARS-F scores for overall quality were reported for Bonne nuit Caillou (3.89 ± 0.74), Mon Raccoon (3.63 ± 0.95), and Chomper Chums (3.54 ± 0.54) while the lowest MARS-F scores for overall quality were achieved by Brushing time (2.31 ± 0.61), De belles dents (2.55 ± 0.55) and Brushing Hero (2.77 ± 0.53). The subjective quality scores ranged from 1.50 ± 0.68 for Brushing time to 3.25 ± 0.97 for Bonne nuit Caillou . Specificity scores ranged from 1.95 ± 0.88 (Brushing time) to 3.75 ± 0.84 ( Bonne nuit Caillou ). Thus, OHP rated positively the quality of the majority of mobile applications linked to oral hygiene for children, their effect on users’ knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to change, and the probability of effective oral hygiene behavior modification. They stated that they would recommend their use to their patients who need them. However, studies analyzing the change in oral hygiene behavior of children using these apps need to be conducted.

Keywords: oral health; education; health promotion; mobile app; prevention; child; toothbrushing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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