Food and drink consumption, sociodemographic factors and dental caries in 4-5-year-old children in Amman, Jordan.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between type of food and drink consumption, sociodemographic factors and prevalence and severity of caries in 4-5-year-old Jordanian children.


METHODS
Two-stage random sampling procedure was used to select children enrolled in kindergartens in Amman. Clinical examinations were carried out by one examiner. Mothers completed a questionnaire relating to sociodemographic factors and food and drink consumption.


RESULTS
Snack foods were consumed by a high percentage of children. Amongst the most popular 'high in NME sugar snacks', confectionery was reported to be regularly consumed by 76% and biscuits and cakes by 71% of them. More than 50% had carbonated drinks. Children from a lower social class, attending a kindergarten with lower tuition fees had more dessert, squashes and more teas with sugar. When all variables were considered, consumption of confectionery was independently associated with caries prevalence and consumption of teas with sugar was independently associated with caries severity.


CONCLUSIONS
The types of foods and drinks consumed as snacks by young Jordanian children were similar to those of Western countries. In the absence of more widespread oral health promotion measures and in the presence of high prevalence and severity of caries,the oral health of Jordanian children is a matter of concern.
Sayegh
A
A
University of Jordan.
Dini
E L
EL
Holt
R D
RD
Bedi
R
R
D001628:Beverages; D002182:Candy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002638:Chewing Gum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015588:Observer Variation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013662:Tea
D002638:Chewing Gum; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D013662:Tea