title: Assessment of social, demographic determinants and oral hygiene practices in relation to dental caries among the children attending Anganwadis of Hingna, Nagpur.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In developing countries, dental caries is the most common disease of the early childhood. Its increased prevalence in younger age group have been predictive of oral health problems in future, affecting oral health and development leading to several morbid conditions of oral and general health. Prevalence and incidence of dental caries is highly influenced by a number of risk factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, dietary patterns, and oral hygiene habits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess social, demographic determinants and oral hygiene practices in relation to dental caries among the children attending Anganwadis of Hingna, Nagpur.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study in 27 Anganwadis of Hingna, Nagpur was carried out over a period of two months and a total of 324 subjects attending the Anganwadis were enrolled. Social, demographic and oral hygiene practices in relation to dental caries were assessed in the study population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 324 subjects, 206 had dental caries and 38 were found to be malnourished. A significant association was found among age, malnutrition, parent's educational status, oral hygiene practices, total number of siblings, and dental caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anganwadis should be addressed routinely on effective oral and general health promoting strategies which must include education of parents, oral and general health issues, risk factors for dental caries, and malnutrition in children below 5 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Swargiya Dadasaheb Kalmegh Smruti Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Shweta Suresh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bhayade
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandak
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhondey
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003710:Demography; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D064890:Social Determinants of Health