Nonnutritive sucking habits among preschool-aged children.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the prevalence and factors associated with nonnutritive sucking habits in preschool-aged children attending daycare centers and preschools in Natal, Brazil.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,190 children of both sexes, aged 3 to 5 years, enrolled in daycare centers and preschools in Natal, Brazil. Exclusion criteria were: children with cleft lip and palate, temporomandibular joint disorders, or submitted to orthodontic and/or orthopedic treatment; as well as institutions specialized in children with disabilities. Parents or guardians answered a structured questionnaire providing information on the institution, children's sex and age, parents' educational level, and habit-related questions. Data analysis was performed using the chi-square test and logistic regression.


RESULTS
A prevalence of 40.2% of nonnutritive sucking habits was obtained; of these, 27.7% were pacifier-sucking and 12.5% were finger-sucking habits. Girls showed a higher percentage of sucking habits, especially finger sucking (p = 0.02); younger children showed a higher prevalence of pacifier-sucking habits (p = 0.0006). A higher frequency of pacifier- and finger-sucking habits was associated, respectively, with parents' higher education (p < 0.05) and elementary education (p < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that younger individuals (p = 0.033) and secondary education level of parents (p = 0.035) are independent factors for habit persistence.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of nonnutritive sucking habits was verified, highlighting younger age groups and secondary education level of parents as important associated factors.
Santos
Shirley A dos
SA
Departamento de Odontologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
Holanda
Ana Larissa F de
AL
Sena
Marina F de
MF
Gondim
Líbia A M
LA
Ferreira
Maria Angela F
MA
D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D041361:Pacifiers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents; D013391:Sucking Behavior