Blanco-Victorio Daniel José, López-Luján Nieves Asteria, Bernaola-Silva Walter, Vicuña-Huaqui Luis Antonio, Cacñahuaray-Palomino Rocio, Diaz-Campos Julissa Sarai, Anicama-Barrios Yeni Araceli, Rojas-Apaza Zenaida, Castañeda-Sarmiento Sara, Vidigal Evelyn Alvarez, López-Ramos Roxana Patricia
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430. Urb Ingeniería, Lima, Peru.
Hospital Santa María del Socorro, Ica, Peru.
BMC Oral Health. 2025 Jan 23;25(1):125. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05506-4.
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.
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.
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.
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.
幼儿龋齿（ECC）是一种在全球儿童中高度流行的口腔疾病，由多种因素导致。本研究旨在调查秘鲁伊卡市一家医院就诊的学龄前儿童中与ECC相关的社会人口学和临床因素。
这项观察性横断面研究涉及186名儿童，他们在秘鲁伊卡市一家医院组织的两次口腔健康活动中接受了评估。由两名经过培训的儿科牙医进行口腔检查，两名护士测量血红蛋白水平。母亲或照顾者填写问卷以提供相关的社会人口学和行为数据。进行多因素逻辑回归分析以确定与ECC显著相关的变量（p < 0.05）。采用最大似然法评估人口统计学、临床和其他因素（如口腔卫生和致龋饮食）的贡献，使用优势比（OR）和回归系数来表明其影响的大小和方向。
ECC的患病率为76.88%。在这些儿童中，50.54%为男性，平均年龄为4.44 ± 0.87岁。大多数参与者口腔卫生较差（63.98%），而82.26%的贫血儿童血红蛋白水平降低。家庭月平均收入为376.35美元 ± 168.96美元。母亲或照顾者报告每天给孩子刷牙两次的比例为56.99%，每天给孩子吃一到两次甜食的比例为79.03%。与ECC显著相关的因素包括儿童年龄（OR = 3.32；95% CI，1.68 - 6.58）、血红蛋白水平（OR = 0.43；�5% CI，0.25 - 0.72）、家庭月收入（OR = 0.99；95% CI，0.9972 - 0.9998）和母亲/照顾者教育程度（OR = 0.13；95% CI，0.03 - 0.52）。此外，刷牙频率（OR = 0.13；95% CI，0.02 - 0.65）和甜食消费（OR = 4.98；95% CI，1.05 - 23.56）被确定为相关行为。
研究结果表明，ECC与儿童年龄、家庭月收入、母亲/照顾者教育水平、血红蛋白水平、刷牙频率和甜食消费有关。
