Infant and child feeding practices and dental caries in 6 to 36 months old children in Fiji.
Dental caries is a multifactorial disease. These factors include the presence of cariogenic micro-organisms, fermentable carbohydrates in diet, susceptible tooth and time. Diet appears to strongly affect caries development. The aim of this study was to examine the feeding practices of infants and pre-school children in the Central Division of the Fiji Islands and suggest appropriate preventive dental strategies. A sample of 102 children aged 6-36 months was randomly selected. Information on feeding practices and oral hygiene habits was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire completed by parents from the post-natal clinics. Children were categorized into age groups of 6-12, 13-24 and 25-36 months. Most of the children (55.5%) were bottle fed in the 6-12 months age group and 44.5% were breast-fed. However percentage of children being breast-fed decreased markedly increased with age. Most of them were breast-fed at some stage. The children who were bottle-fed increased in the 13-24 months age group but decreased in 25-36 months group. Snacks were given between meals for most of the children. Sugar was used as the common sweetener among bottle-fed children. Parents are definitely in need of appropriate advice on feeding and oral hygiene practices. An oral health education programme needs to be mounted at post-natal clinics.
Singh
Prakashni
P
Dental Department, Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, Fiji.
King
Temalesi
T
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005248:Feeding Methods; D005367:Fiji; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D008892:Milk; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D012923:Social Class; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014099:Toothbrushing
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D013549:Sweetening Agents