The Association of Socioeconomic and Lifestyle Factors with the Oral Health Status in School-Age Children from Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with early childhood caries in Peruvian pre-schoolers

BACKGROUND

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a highly prevalent oral disease among children worldwide, arising from multiple contributing factors. This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with ECC in preschool children attending a hospital in Ica, Peru.

METHODS

This observational cross-sectional study involved 186 children evaluated during two dental health campaigns organised by a hospital in Ica, Peru. Oral examinations were conducted by two trained paediatric dentists, while haemoglobin levels were measured by two nurses. Mothers or caregivers completed questionnaires to provide relevant sociodemographic and behavioural data. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify variables significantly associated with ECC (p < 0.05). The maximum likelihood method was used to assess the contribution of demographic, clinical and other factors-such as oral hygiene and cariogenic diet-using odds ratios (ORs) and regression coefficients to indicate the magnitude and direction of their effects.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ECC was 76.88%. Among the children, 50.54% were male, with a mean age of 4.44 ± 0.87 years. Most participants had poor oral hygiene (63.98%), while 82.26% of children with anaemia had reduced haemoglobin levels. The mean monthly family income was USD 376.35 ± 168.96. Mothers or caregivers reported brushing their children's teeth twice daily (56.99%) and giving sweets one to two times daily (79.03%). Factors significantly associated with ECC included the child's age (OR = 3.32; 95% CI, 1.68-6.58), haemoglobin level (OR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.25-0.72), monthly family income (OR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.9972-0.9998) and mother/caregiver education (OR = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.52). Additionally, dental brushing frequency (OR = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.65) and sweet consumption (OR = 4.98; 95% CI, 1.05-23.56) were identified as associated behaviours.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrate that ECC is associated with a child's age, monthly family income, mother/caregiver education level, haemoglobin level, brushing frequency and sweet consumption.

Assessing oral health knowledge among public school children in Saudi Arabian subpopulation

INTRODUCTION

Oral hygiene is paramount for maintaining optimal oral and physical health, especially among children who are particularly susceptible to dental caries and issues due to dietary habits and inadequate hygiene practices. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of oral health among public school children, analyse their oral hygiene habits, educate parents on the importance of oral health for their children, and implement an oral hygiene educational program in Al-Kharj City, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

Four public elementary schools were selected for the study, with a sample size of 200 school-going children participating. A structured questionnaire was used to assess awareness and knowledge of oral health among the participants. SPSS software version 26 was used for data analysis. Multiple regression analysis and correlation tests was employed to explore the relationships between the different variables measured in the study.

RESULTS

The findings revealed a significant lack of awareness regarding oral health among school children. Oral hygiene habits were found to be inadequate in many participants. Overall, the findings highlight the need for targeted interventions aimed at promoting regular dental visits, addressing dental fear, and fostering positive oral hygiene practices among school-going children to improve oral health outcomes in the studied population.

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted a critical gap in oral health awareness among school children, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. While the oral hygiene educational program has been implemented and future data will shed light on its effectiveness, preliminary observations suggest that such programs could potentially improve oral health outcomes and overall engagement among students.

Knowledge and attitudes on oral health of women during pregnancy and their children: an online survey

BACKGROUND

Life-long healthy behaviors are established during pregnancy and the first years of life. In this cross-sectional survey, new mothers with a high level of schooling living in Northern Italy (Lombardy Region) were interviewed to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards their and child oral health.

METHODS

A questionnaire (27 items) was developed to assess socio-demographic factors, knowledge, and attitudes towards maternal and child oral health. The questionnaire was disseminated in perinatal courses, private gynecological clinics, and via social media. Mothers aged ≥18 years, with at least a child aged 0-36 months, with a high school diploma or higher, were included in the survey.

RESULTS

A total of 1340 women completed the questionnaire, 1297 of whom had a child aged 0-36 months, 792 lived in Lombardy, and 600 had a high level of education and were finally included. About half of the sample (44.67%) was aged between 31 and 35 years, 76.50% were employed, and the majority had only one child (81.50%). During pregnancy, 28.33% of the sample reported problems with teeth and gums, while only 36.00% visited a dentist. More than 40% of the sample said they were not aware of a possible link between oral health and pregnancy, and 73.17% had not received any advice about their oral health or the future health of their baby's mouth. Less than 20% of women were aware of the increased caries risk associated with prolonged or night-time breastfeeding. Better knowledge/attitude was associated with the age of the child (p < 0.05), the number of children (p < 0.05) and whether the mother had received advice during pregnancy (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this survey show a lack of dental care during pregnancy, a lack of information about oral health from health professionals during and after pregnancy, and consequently gaps in the knowledge needed to care for the oral health of the woman and her child. There is a need for training in oral health for pregnant women and new mothers, but also a need for behavioural change among health professionals who care for pregnant women.

Assessing the impact of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors on oral health: a cross-sectional study in the Hungarian population

Introduction

Oral health, a critical aspect of overall well-being, is influenced by various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, with poor oral health associated with systemic diseases and diminished quality of life.

Methods

This cross-sectional study leverages data from the Hungarian European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) representative of the Hungarian population, to conduct a comprehensive examination of the intersection between these factors and oral health, aiming to identify potential risk factors and contribute to the development of targeted interventions. The research examined associations between sociodemographic/lifestyle factors and oral health. Statistical techniques included Pearson's Chi-square test, multivariate and ordinal logistic regression analyses. Weighting was applied to assure the representativeness of the population and enhance the validity of the survey results.

Results

The study identifies gender, age, education, financial status, smoking, and self-perceived oral health as key factors influencing oral health outcomes. Notably, regular dental visits significantly reduced the risk of poor oral health and caries. Females, non-smokers, university graduates, high-income individuals, and those with good self-perceived health had fewer missing teeth and better self-perceived oral health. Teeth extractions due to decay, especially when not replaced, significantly increased the perception of poor oral health, while regular dental visits improved it.

Discussion

The study highlights the need for personalized oral health interventions considering the different sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, along with promotion of healthy lifestyle, more frequent dental office visits and equitable dental care access. The findings offer the potential to inform regional oral health policies and prevention strategies, improving oral health and overall wellbeing.