{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T05:01:02Z","timestamp":1790398862695,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790294400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790294400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Comm Dent Oral Epid"],"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Indigenous populations experience a disproportionate burden of early childhood caries (ECC). However, the true scale of the problem among Indigenous populations in Africa is unknown, obscuring and hindering the development of equitable interventions. This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on the prevalence, determinants, and interventions for ECC among Indigenous children's populations in Africa using a decolonizing framework.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The scoping review was registered with the Open Science Foundation (DOI: 10.17605\/OSF.IO\/A8YHN) and followed PRISMA\u2010ScR guidelines. Guided by the Population, Concept, Context framework, the study examined evidence on the prevalence, social determinants (including water access, food sovereignty, and colonial legacy), and interventions for ECC among Indigenous children (aged 0\u20135\u2009years) in Africa. A search in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and grey literature (WHO, UNICEF, IWGIA, African Commission) was conducted up to December 2025, with hand\u2010searching of references of manuscripts and expert consultation. Two reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, ECC prevalence, determinants (categorized as individual\/family, community, or systems\/policy level), and intervention approaches (decolonizing vs. conventional). Descriptive and inductive thematic analyses were performed.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Two studies (one from South Africa and Cameroon, respectively), both cross\u2010sectional, met the inclusion criteria. ECC prevalence was high but variable (27.5%\u201363%). The studies identified multi\u2010level social determinants, including individual\/family factors (diet, oral hygiene), community factors (cultural norms), and systemic factors (healthcare access inequalities, colonial legacy). The data collection process was characterized by externally driven, consultative approaches with minimal community involvement, failing to reflect decolonizing or participatory principles.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>There is a gap in knowledge regarding ECC in African Indigenous children's populations. The near\u2010total absence of evidence, coupled with research models that perpetuate colonial power dynamics, highlights an urgent need for a paradigm shift. Future research must be grounded in decolonizing frameworks that prioritize community\u2010led, participatory approaches, Indigenous sovereignty, and self\u2010determination to address this oral health crisis effectively.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/cdoe.70091","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T04:44:19Z","timestamp":1790397859000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A Scoping Review of Early Childhood Caries Prevalence, Determinants, and Interventions Among Indigenous Populations in Africa Using a Decolonizing Framework"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9008-7730","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mor\u00e9nik\u00e9 Oluw\u00e1t\u00f3y\u00ecn","family":"Fol\u00e1yan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group University of Manitoba  Winnipeg Canada"},{"name":"AFRONE Network, Faculty of Dentistry Alexandria University  Alexandria Egypt"},{"name":"Oral Health Initiative Nigerian Institute of Medical Research  Yaba Lagos Nigeria"},{"name":"Department of Child Dental Health Obafemi Awolowo University  Ile\u2010Ife Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emmanuel","family":"Oyeyemi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry Obafemi Awolowo University  Ile\u2010Ife Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-1815-3095","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ayodeji","family":"Arobo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry Obafemi Awolowo University  Ile\u2010Ife Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0022034518763605"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1752\u20107325.1999.tb03268.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/biomed3040035"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/froh.2025.1546747"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.14219\/jada.archive.2009.0250"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903\u2010025\u201005587\u20101"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.adaj.2019.09.004"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S1742058X11000130"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_10_1","volume-title":"Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity","author":"National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on Community\u2010Based Solutions to Promote Health Equity in the United States","year":"2017"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/cdn\/nzaa163"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/cdn\/nzz099"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh\u20102020\u2010004052"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1137428","article-title":"Because Its Power Remains Naturalized: Introducing the Settler Colonial Determinants of Health","volume":"11","author":"Wispelwey B.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Frontiers in Public Health"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_15_1","first-page":"235","volume-title":"Sociology, Social Policy and Education","author":"Manitowabi D.","year":"2025"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889\u2010022\u201013122\u2010y"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_17_1","first-page":"27","article-title":"Prevalence of Caries Among Preschool\u2010Aged Children in A Northern Manitoba Community","volume":"71","author":"Schroth R. 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