University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
School of Dentistry and Oral Health, A.T. Still University Arizona, Mesa, AZ 85206, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jul 10;16(14):2456. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16142456.
Globalization and urbanization in Nepal have driven a nutritional transition from an agricultural-based diet to an ultra-processed, sugary diet. This study assessed the nutrition and oral health of 836 children age 6 months to 6 years and their families in rural and urban Nepal. Mothers were interviewed about maternal-child oral health and nutrition, and children received dental exams and height and weight measurements. Analyses utilized SPSS statistical software. Most families lived within a 5-minute walk to a store selling ultra-processed snacks and sugary drinks. While most mothers knew sweets caused tooth decay, half of the children were given sweets daily, and 58.2% of children had dental caries. Caries began in the first 2 years and increased in prevalence and severity to age 6, when 74.3% had caries and 20% experienced mouth pain. Despite greater health knowledge and resources among urban mothers, urban children's increased access to junk food and frequency of consumption was associated with higher prevalence and severity of caries compared to rural children. Severe caries was associated with malnutrition, especially in rural children. Preventive strategies are needed in early childhood to incorporate nutrition and oral health education and dental care into maternal-child health services, and develop policies to prohibit the sale of junk food around schools.
尼泊尔的全球化和城市化推动了从以农业为基础的饮食向超加工、含糖饮食的营养转变。本研究评估了尼泊尔农村和城市 836 名 6 个月至 6 岁儿童及其家庭的营养和口腔健康状况。母亲接受了有关母婴口腔健康和营养的访谈，儿童接受了牙齿检查以及身高和体重测量。分析使用了 SPSS 统计软件。大多数家庭居住在距离出售超加工零食和含糖饮料的商店步行 5 分钟以内的地方。虽然大多数母亲知道甜食会导致龋齿，但一半的孩子每天都吃甜食，58.2%的孩子有龋齿。龋齿在头 2 年开始，并随着年龄的增长而增加到 6 岁，此时 74.3%的孩子有龋齿，20%的孩子有口腔疼痛。尽管城市母亲的健康知识和资源更多，但与农村儿童相比，城市儿童更多地接触垃圾食品和消费频率更高，与龋齿的更高患病率和严重程度相关。严重的龋齿与营养不良有关，尤其是在农村儿童中。需要在儿童早期采取预防策略，将营养和口腔健康教育以及口腔保健纳入母婴健康服务，并制定政策禁止在学校周围出售垃圾食品。
