title: Prevalence of early childhood caries among preschool children in Trivandrum and its association with various risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early childhood caries (ECC) is a severe form of dental decay with multi-factorial origin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and related risk factors of ECC among preschool children residing in rural and urban areas of Trivandrum district in Kerala.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample size of 1329 preschool children of <60 months of age was randomly selected from rural and urban areas of Trivandrum and decayed missing filled teeth indices were recorded. A standardized questionnaire was distributed to the parents. The data were subjected to SPSS version 16 and statistically analyzed with Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of ECC in the study sample was found to be 54%. Furthermore, a positive association was obtained between ECC and age of the child, location of residence, dietary habits, and oral hygiene habits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an urgent need to implement preventive and curative oral health programs for preschool children in rural and urban areas.
authors: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Sankara Dental College, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors: Sobha
authors: S
authors: Kuriakose
authors: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Sankara Dental College, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors: Meenu
authors: M
authors: Prasannan
authors: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Sankara Dental College, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors: K C
authors: KC
authors: Remya
authors: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Sankara Dental College, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors: Joy
authors: J
authors: Kurian
authors: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Sankara Dental College, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors: K R
authors: KR
authors: Sreejith
keywords: Early childhood caries; oral hygiene habits; preschool; syrupy medications; working status of mothers