1.Evaluation on the effect of prevention and control of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in Sichuan Province from 2018 to 2021
Pei LIU ; Xiaojing YANG ; Daoyun XU ; Jing CHEN ; Wen PANG
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2023;42(2):116-121
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in Sichuan Province, and to provide basis for further development of targeted prevention and control measures.Methods:According to the requirements of the Implementation Plan for the Elimination and Evaluation of Coal-burning-borne Endemic Fluorosis in Sichuan Province, from 2018 to 2021, the assessment of the elimination of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis was carried out in all the endemic fluorosis villages of 23 counties (cities, districts) in Sichuan Province. In each village, 30 households were selected to be investigated the use of improved stoves, the drying of corn and pepper for human consumption, and the prevalence of dental fluorosis among all children aged 8 - 12 years old in the village.Results:A total of 222 242 households were surveyed in 1 640 villages, 196 towns, 23 counties (cities, districts) in Sichuan Province. Among them, the rate of qualified improved stoves was 99.99% (222 238/222 242), the correct use rate of qualified improved stoves was 99.90% (212 026/222 238), and the correct drying rate of corn and pepper for human consumption was 99.96% (212 630/212 721). A total of 135 125 children aged 8 to 12 years old were examined, and 5 927 cases of dental fluorosis were detected. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in children was 4.39%. The grading of dental fluorosis was mainly very mild and mild, which were 2.71% (3 656/135 125) and 1.32% (1 783/135 125), respectively. In the county-level self-assessment of 1 640 villages, 1 621 villages had reached the elimination standard, with the elimination rate of 98.84%. Taking counties as a unit, the elimination rate of diseased villages ranged from 96.69% to 100.00%, and 23 diseased counties (cities, districts) had reached the elimination standard. In the provincial-level review results of 174 villages with endemic fluorosis, 174 diseased villages had reached the elimination standard, with the consistency rate of 98.85% (172/174) with the county-level self-assessment results. Among them, except for Gulin County, the consistency rate of self-assessment results was 7/9, the consistency rate of other counties (cities, districts) was 100.00%.Conclusions:The prevention and control of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in Sichuan Province has achieved remarkable results, and all the diseased counties (cities, districts) have reached the elimination standard. In the future, we should continue to take active prevention and control measures to ensure that the elimination status is maintained.