To understand the current situation on coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis control and prevention in Yunnan Province, timely discover problems in prevention and control of the disease, and achieve the "13th Five-Year Plan" objectives as scheduled.

Simple random sampling method was adopted to conduct investigations in Weixin County, Daguan County of Zhaotong City, and Fuyuan County of Qujing City in the key diseased areas of Yunnan Province in 2017. Three townships from each endemic fluorosis area were randomly selected, and 2 villages of each township were randomly selected. The use of improved stoves (types of stoves, integrity rate and correct use), knowledge and behavior changes of endemic fluorosis prevention among local grade five pupils and housewives or household heads and the condition of endemic fluorosis (dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride situation in children) were investigated in above mentioned villages.

A total of 532 households were investigated. The consumption rate of self-produced corn and pepper were 53.4% (284/532) and 44.7% (238/532), respectively. Totally 81.0% (431/532) of households burned coal, the average annual coal burning time per household was 6.3 months. Totally 44.5% (237/532) of the households used the improved iron stove, 89.5% (476/532) used the electric cooker to cook rice, 84.2% (448/532) used the induction cooker to cook, and 36.7% (195/532) used the portable open stove. The integrity rate of improved stoves and the correct usage rate were 86.9% (206/237) and 84.0% (199/237), respectively, among the 237 households using improved stoves. The awareness rate of the prevention and control of coal-burning-borne fluorosis in grade five pupils and housewives or household heads were 85.8% (921/1 074) and 17.7% (283/1 596), respectively. The correct drying rates of edible corn and peppers were 66.5% (189/284) and 52.9% (126/238), respectively. A total of 3 333 children aged 8 - 12 years old were examined and the dental fluorosis positive rate was 11.28% (376/3 333). Totally 377 samples of immediate urine samples were detected, the geometric mean of urinary fluoride content of children was 0.37 (0.06 - 2.14) mg/L.

The situation of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in Yunnan Province is effectively controlled, but the correct use rate of improved stoves, the correct drying rate of edible corn and peppers are low, and do not meet the requirements of the "13th Five-Year Plan".

Endemic fluorosis; Coal-burning-borne; Condition; Current situation