JNDA Vol. 21 No. 2 Issue 33 (July - December 2021) |
Evaluation of Breastfeeding Practices, Home Oral Care Behaviours, and Dental Status of Children visiting a Tertiary Hospital |
Dr. Bibardha Khanal, Dr. Sumita Upadhyay, Dr. Bindu Poudel |
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Abstract |
Introduction: Paediatric dentists are uniquely positioned to advocate for breastfeeding while educating caregivers about preventing early childhood caries (ECC) and malocclusion that may be associated with prolonged ad libitum and nocturnal feeding. Objective: To evaluate the breastfeeding practices, home oral care behaviours, and dental status of children visiting a tertiary hospital in Nepal. Materials and Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted to recruit a convenience sample of 103 mother-child duos from August 2018 to January 2019 at Dhulikhel Hospital. A verbal interview with mothers and clinical examinations of children were performed. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS v.21. Frequency, percentage, and Chi-square tests were analysed for comparison. Result: Only 73 (70.88%) children were exclusively breast-fed in the first six months of life, while 58 (56.31%) had prolonged breastfeeding for more than two years. Ad libitum (98, 95.15%) and nocturnal feeding (95, 92.23%) were reported. The prevalence of early childhood caries was 96 (93.20%), with a mean deft index of 7.46. The mesial step terminal plane was the most predominant, and lack of physiological spacing was the most common malocclusion. Conclusion: Ad libitum, nocturnal feeding, high consumption of sugar, and a lack of proper home oral hygiene may increase the risk for the development of ECC. |
Keywords |
Breastfeeding; early childhood caries; oral hygiene. |