IADR Abstract Archives
Maternal Predictors Of Early Childhood Caries: A Meta Analysis
Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem. Studies have reported propinquity between ECC and maternal factors.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the evidences of association between maternal factors and early childhood caries.
Methods: The comprehensive search of literature was conducted for the period 2002 to 2016. Database included Pubmed, Google scholar and cross references. Two authors independently selected the studies and extracted the data. Mesh terms “caregivers” ,”mother”, ”maternal”, ”dental decay”, children” and “infant” were used. Out of 4036 relevant articles were selected after removing the duplicates, reviews and those who did not match the search criteria. Abstracts of 107 articles were viewed from which 38 articles were short listed for full text reading. 21 papers were finally included. Methodological quality assessment was done based on modified Strobe checklist.
Results: Mother’s caries status, knowledge, socioeconomic status, education status and smoking habit significantly affect the caries status of children whereas the effect of socio economic status and breast feeding is inconclusive. There is lack of studies on children aged < 30 months.
There is strong evidence that the maternal education is inversely related to ECC. Maternal smoking & S.Mutans level showed a positive correlation with ECC whereas effect of socioeconomic status and breastfeeding are inconclusive. The studies are heterogeneous with vacillating study designs and assessment of independent and dependent variables. Excluding pregnancy related factors is limitation of this review. Further studies on maternal oral health status, demographic factors, behavioural factors, stress, employment, socio economic status and breast feeding are required.
Conclusions: The systematic review of observational studies indicate Level III evidence for association between maternal factors and early childhood caries.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the evidences of association between maternal factors and early childhood caries.
Methods: The comprehensive search of literature was conducted for the period 2002 to 2016. Database included Pubmed, Google scholar and cross references. Two authors independently selected the studies and extracted the data. Mesh terms “caregivers” ,”mother”, ”maternal”, ”dental decay”, children” and “infant” were used. Out of 4036 relevant articles were selected after removing the duplicates, reviews and those who did not match the search criteria. Abstracts of 107 articles were viewed from which 38 articles were short listed for full text reading. 21 papers were finally included. Methodological quality assessment was done based on modified Strobe checklist.
Results: Mother’s caries status, knowledge, socioeconomic status, education status and smoking habit significantly affect the caries status of children whereas the effect of socio economic status and breast feeding is inconclusive. There is lack of studies on children aged < 30 months.
There is strong evidence that the maternal education is inversely related to ECC. Maternal smoking & S.Mutans level showed a positive correlation with ECC whereas effect of socioeconomic status and breastfeeding are inconclusive. The studies are heterogeneous with vacillating study designs and assessment of independent and dependent variables. Excluding pregnancy related factors is limitation of this review. Further studies on maternal oral health status, demographic factors, behavioural factors, stress, employment, socio economic status and breast feeding are required.
Conclusions: The systematic review of observational studies indicate Level III evidence for association between maternal factors and early childhood caries.