An Investigation Of Severe Early Childhood Caries And Risk Factors Analysis Of Uyghur And Han Children In Yining Of Xin Jiang, China

Objective: To investigate the prevalence rate and risk factors of severe early childhood caries among 3-5 years old Uyghur and Han children in Yining, and provide scientific basis for prevention of children caries. Methods: According to the methods of the third national oral health investigation in 2005, a stratified multistage cluster random sampling design was applied. The deciduous tooth caries of 965 Uyghur and Han children aged from three to five in 16 kindergartens were clinically examined. Data were collected through questionnaire from their parents and the results analyzed using Logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence rate of primary tooth caries was 81.24%. The mean DMFT was 4.44, and the total prevalence rate of severe early childhood caries was 42.38%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age [OR=2.235,P<0.001], eating before bedtime/after tooth-brushing[OR=1.742,P=0.011], the frequency of eating cakes[OR=1.698,P<0.001], length of television viewing[OR=1.365,P=0.021], caregivers who is suffering from caries[OR=2.859,P<0.001]were the risk factors of severe early childhood caries, while the frequency of brushing teeth[OR=0.590, P=0.001]and helping children brush teeth[OR=0.724, P=0.003]were the protective factors for severe early childhood caries. Conclusion: The prevalence of severe early childhood caries in Yining is high. It should be highly concerned by parents, kindergarten teachers and doctors to correct children’s bad eating habits and develop good oral hygiene habits. Early measures should be implemented to reduce the prevalence of caries in local children.