Objectives: To identify the factors associated with Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) among three and five year-old Aboriginal children residing in seven Aboriginal communities in the District of Manitoulin, Ontario, Canada. Methods: Using a case-control study design factors were identified using a standardized interview questionnaire given to 68 primary caregivers. A S-ECC case was defined as a child with caries on two or more deciduous maxillary incisors or canines presenting as active or filled lesions or teeth missing due to caries, or they had a total decayed, missing (because of caries), filled primary teeth score (dmft) greater than 3. Data were analyzed using manual, forward, stepwise multiple logistic regression. Results: The following familial, infant/child feeding and oral hygiene factors were statistically associated with the development of S-ECC (P<0.1): father's education level OR 14.2 90% CI (4.1,49.2); child using a bedtime bottle containing sweet liquids after the child began walking (approximately 12 months of age) OR 6.6 90% CI (1.2, 36.4); mother's education level OR 0.2 90% CI (0.03, 0.4); primary caregiver initiating child's brushing of teeth after the age of 24 months OR 6.1 90% CI (1.5, 25.7); and the child eating four or more between-meal snacks per day OR 4.9 90% CI (1.4, 17.1). Conclusion: These results will assist community health care workers in identifying those children at greatest risk for S-ECC. It may also help in the redirection of limited resources to plan and implement effective preventive oral health interventions.

Back to the Behavioral Sciences/Health Services Research Program
Back to the ADEA/AADR/CADR Meeting & Exhibition (March 8-11, 2006)

Top Level Search