Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries and the Related Factors among 3-6 years in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.l

Background & Aim: Early Childhood Caries is one of the most common health problems, and numerous factors play a role in its onset and progression. Investigating these factors and providing timely training for parents can play an important role in controlling the disease. The present study aims at determining the frequency of early childhood caries and its related factors in children aged 3-6 years in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Methods & Materials: This was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. 565 children aged 3-6 years old from kindergartens and preschool centers of Yasuj, Dehdasht and Gachsaran districts enrolled study based on multi-stage cluster random sampling. The diagnosis of caries was conducted by one examiner in each district. Data collection were done via two checklists: demographic and related factors to early childhood dental caries. Data analyses were done by using SPSS20 software using Chi-square and logistic regression tests. Results: Mean age of children was 5.03± 0.94.  Out of 565 children, 306(54.2%) were boy and 259(45.8%) were girl. 75% of children had early childhood dental caries .Mean of dmft was 5.13 ± 3.69. There was a statistically significant relationship between early childhood dental caries and employment status of mothers (p<0.0001), and fathers (p<0.0001). Early childhood dental caries was less frequent in children whose mothers were housewives and more frequent in children with unemployed fathers. There was also a significant relationship between early childhood dental caries and the onset of brushing in a child (p = 0.001), doing or not failing to do fluoride therapy (p = 0.0001), frequency of feeding with sweets between meals (p = 0.04), the time of the first dental visit (p = 0.002), and mothers’ education (p = 0.01). In logistic regression analysis, it was indicated that the father’s age (OR = 1.12, CI95% OR = 1.04-1.24, p=0.003), fluoride therapy status (OR = 4.26, CI95% OR = 1.97-9.18, p=0.0001), and dmft (OR = 2.05, CI95% OR = 1.76-2.4, p=0.0001) were predictors of early childhood dental caries. Conclusion: Given that, the prevalence of early childhood caries in children 3-6 years old in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, is high; educational intervention to increase parent’ knowledge about how to prevent early childhood caries in children is necessary .