Introduction:
Excessive intake of fluorides can lead to the development of fluorosis, a serious public health issue in India. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of community defluoridation in preventing fluorosis in Kaiwara village.
Methodology:
This community interventional trial was conducted in Kaiwara village, Karnataka, after obtaining ethical clearance. The study included 903 participants; preintervention data were collected by recording the required parameters. The postinterventional study was carried out 2 years after installing the reverse osmosis plant. Data from pre- and post-intervention study were compared.
Results:
Dean's index showed no significant change in the pre- and post-intervention period for its various categories (
P
= 0.543). However, the mean urine fluoride levels were found to be decreased significantly (Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test,
P
< 0.001).
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates the importance of providing defluorinated water to the village population as a potential solution for fluorosis.
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