title: Simple predictive model for Early Childhood Caries of Chilean children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early Childhood Caries (ECC), in both industrialized and developing countries, is the most prevalent chronic disease in childhood and it is still a health public problem, affecting mainly populations considered as vulnerable, despite being preventable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to obtain a simple predictive model based on risk factors for improving public health strategies for ECC prevention for 3-5 year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical, environmental and psycho-socio-cultural data of children (n=250) aged 3-5 years, of both genders, from the Health Centers, were recorded in a Clinical History and Behavioral Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  24% of children presented behavioral problems (bizarre behavior was the main feature observed as behavioral problems). The variables associated to dmf ?4 were: bad children temperament (OR=2.43 [1.34, 4.40]) and home stress (OR=3.14 [1.54, 6.41]). It was observed that the model for male gender has higher accuracy for ECC (AUC= 78%, p-value=0.000) than others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results, we proposed a model where oral hygiene, sugar intake, male gender, and difficult temperament are main factors for predicting ECC. This model could be a promising tool for cost-effective early childhood caries control.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Fierro Monti
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pérez Flores
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Brunotto
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013694:Temperament; D013997:Time Factors