Estimation of the Prevalence of Noma in Ethiopia, 2007–2019: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Noma is a rapidly advancing and frequently deadly infection affecting the oral and facial regions. The condition causes severe destruction of the soft and osseous tissues of the face. Noma primarily affects impoverished children with weakened immune systems, yet epidemiological data on the disease are lacking. This cross-sectional study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by estimating the prevalence of noma in Ethiopia. A retrospective review of patients’ medical records was conducted using data from the Facing Africa database, spanning from 2007 to 2019. The prevalence of noma was calculated for the general population and for children under 10 years old at national and regional levels. The estimation process involved analyzing raw data and referring to an expert consultation report organized by the Oral Health Division of the WHO, which used the Delphi method. Based on the analysis of 235 medical records, the study revealed an estimated prevalence of 16 cases per 100,000 population and 0.47 case per 1,000 children under 10 years old nationally, with approximately 1,446 and 1,237 new cases diagnosed annually, respectively. The Gambela region had the highest prevalence of noma, with 276.2 cases per 100,000 population, whereas the Benshangul Gumuz region had the lowest rate at 6.2 cases per 100,000 population. Similarly, the Gambela and Benshangul Gumuz regions exhibited the highest and lowest prevalences per 1,000 children under 10 years old, estimated at 8.12 and 0.18 cases per 1,000, respectively. The findings underscore the public health impact of noma in Ethiopia and the need for effective prevention and treatment strategies.