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Associations of social and behavioural factors with early childhood caries in Xiamen city in China
Author(s) -
Li Yang,
Zhang Ye,
Yang Ran,
Zhang Qiong,
Zou Jing,
Kang Deying
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-263x.2010.01093.x
Subject(s) - medicine , early childhood caries , residence , bedtime , tooth brushing , logistic regression , environmental health , demography , china , oral health , rural area , population , dentistry , brush , pathology , toothbrush , sociology , political science , law , electrical engineering , engineering
Background Early childhood caries (ECC) is the presence of caries in primary teeth in children 71 months of age or younger. Despite a decreasing prevalence of caries in China, ECC and related risk factors in China have not been well studied. Aims This study aimed to investigate the status of ECC in children living in Xiamen city in China and to analyse the associated social and behaviour determinants. Design A stratified random sample consisted of 1523 children with normal birth records. Clinical examination was performed to record caries at the surface level. Parents filled in questionnaires regarding eating habits, family status, childcare provider, and oral intervention. Results Prevalence of ECC in studied child population was 56.8–78.31%, with an increasing tendency with age. The following factors were found to be significantly associated with ECC: age, candy, carbonated drink, bedtime eating, late start of brushing, low education of parents, private childcare, increased number of siblings, rural residence, and lack of oral health knowledge. Using a stepwise forward logistic regression analysis, a prediction model was established. Conclusion Early childhood caries in children living in Xiamen city was strongly associated with eating habits, family‐ and childcare‐related factors and tooth‐brushing. The ECC‐high‐risk group is children in rural private childcare facilities.