Severe early childhood caries among young children and its association with behavioural factors: A hospital-based cross-sectional study

Background Several risk factors have been associated with early childhood caries (ECC). However, conclusive data are not available about the socio-demographic and behavioural factors which are associated with severe ECC (S-ECC). We assessed the severity and pattern of ECC in young children. We also looked for association of S-ECC with various sociobehavioural risk factors in a hospital-based setting. Methods We included 200 children, 1-6 years old, who reported with dental caries to a paediatric dental outpatient in a tertiary care hospital. Information about socio-demographics and various behavioural factors was recorded in a structured proforma using an interview method. The American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD) criteria were used for categorizing children into ECC and severe ECC groups (S-ECC). Qualitative variables were analysed by chi-square test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to find the predictors of severe S-ECC. All statistical tests were done at a significance level of p<0.05. Results The majority of children (85%) had S-ECC and anterior-posterior (AP) caries pattern (77%). A significant association was found between the age of the child (p<0.001), absence of siblings (p=0.009), continuation of bottle feed or mother's milk till the age of reporting to the hospital (p=0.007), frequency of night-time feed (p=0.048) and S-ECC. Conclusions A continued habit of milk feed from bottle/mother till the time of dental visit seeking treatment and night time-feeds more than twice had a significant association with S-ECC.