Gao Sherry Shiqian, Duangthip Duangporn, Lo Edward Chin Man, Chu Chun Hung
J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2018;42(5):367-372. doi: 10.17796/1053-4625-42.5.8. Epub 2018 May 15.
Early childhood caries (ECC) was prevalent in Hong Kong. Children with ECC risk should be identified early for prevention. This study aimed to identify common risk factors of ECC in Hong Kong 3-year-old children.
Sample size calculation showed at least 6,321 of 3-year-old children should be invited in this study. A consent form and a questionnaire enquiring the children's oral health behaviours and social-economic background were distributed to their parents. Children with parental consent were examined by a trained dentist. Caries status was recorded in dmft index. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the risk factors of ECC.
A total of 5,167 children from the 6,331 children invited were examined. Among them, 1,130 children (22%) had ECC (dmft>0). Logistic regression analysis found age of starting tooth brushing, snack-intake frequency, dental visit experience, birthplace, family monthly income, primary caretaker, and mother's education level were factors associated with ECC of the children.
Children who started tooth brushing later, had higher snack-intake frequency, were not born in Hong Kong, and whose family monthly income was lower, mother's education level was lower, primary caretaker was not domestic helper, had a statistically significant higher chance of having ECC.
幼儿龋（ECC）在香港普遍存在。应尽早识别有ECC风险的儿童以便进行预防。本研究旨在确定香港3岁儿童中ECC的常见风险因素。
样本量计算表明本研究应邀请至少6321名3岁儿童。向其父母发放了一份同意书以及一份询问儿童口腔健康行为和社会经济背景的问卷。获得父母同意的儿童由一名经过培训的牙医进行检查。龋病状况以dmft指数记录。进行卡方检验和逻辑回归分析以确定ECC的风险因素。
在邀请的6331名儿童中，共有5167名儿童接受了检查。其中，1130名儿童（22%）患有ECC（dmft>0）。逻辑回归分析发现开始刷牙的年龄、吃零食的频率、看牙经历、出生地、家庭月收入、主要照顾者以及母亲的教育水平是与儿童ECC相关的因素。
开始刷牙较晚、吃零食频率较高、非在香港出生、家庭月收入较低、母亲教育水平较低、主要照顾者不是家务佣工的儿童患ECC的几率在统计学上显著更高。
