Early Childhood Caries in Bedouin Children
Author Information
Author(s): Livny Alon, Assali Rula, Sgan-Cohen Harold D
Primary Institution: Department of Community Dentistry, Hebrew University- Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) among Bedouin children aged 12–36 months?
Conclusion
ECC levels in this community were not very high but neither low, indicating a potential for a wider dental disease epidemic.
Supporting Evidence
- 17.6% of children demonstrated ECC.
- ECC was more prevalent among children of less educated mothers.
- Children from larger families had higher levels of ECC.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many young Bedouin children have cavities, finding that some do, but not as many as expected.
Methodology
102 children aged 12–36 months were visually examined for caries, and mothers were interviewed for demographic and health behavior data.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the subjective assessment of mothers' dental appearance.
Limitations
The study was limited by the small sample size and the inability to ascertain the total number of children in the target population.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 12–36 months, 56 males and 46 females, from a disadvantaged Bedouin community.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.009
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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