OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between social class, infant feeding, oral hygiene, and prevalence and patterns of caries in 4-5-year-old Jordanian children. METHOD: Two-stage random sampling procedure was used to select children enrolled in kindergartens in Amman, Jordan. Clinical examinations were carried out by one examiner. Mothers completed questionnaires relating to social class, infant feeding and the oral hygiene habits of the children. RESULTS: Sixty-seven per cent of the children had caries; 30% had the more extensive pattern involving molars and incisors. When the significant variables were taken into account, age, social class, sleeping with the mother, use of comforter and confectionery at bed/night time were shown to be independent risk factors for caries experience. Bottle-feeding at nap/bed/night time was associated with caries in incisors and caries in incisors and/or canines. Never being breast-fed, being breast-fed for more than 18 months, being breast-fed at nap/bed/night time showed a negative association with caries confined to molars although this showed a positive association with the more extensive pattern of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Education for mothers about appropriate breast and bottle-feeding practices should be considered in health promotion strategies.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between social class, infant feeding, oral hygiene, and prevalence and patterns of caries in 4-5-year-old Jordanian children. METHOD: Two-stage random sampling procedure was used to select children enrolled in kindergartens in Amman, Jordan. Clinical examinations were carried out by one examiner. Mothers completed questionnaires relating to social class, infant feeding and the oral hygiene habits of the children. RESULTS: Sixty-seven per cent of the children had caries; 30% had the more extensive pattern involving molars and incisors. When the significant variables were taken into account, age, social class, sleeping with the mother, use of comforter and confectionery at bed/night time were shown to be independent risk factors for caries experience. Bottle-feeding at nap/bed/night time was associated with caries in incisors and caries in incisors and/or canines. Never being breast-fed, being breast-fed for more than 18 months, being breast-fed at nap/bed/night time showed a negative association with caries confined to molars although this showed a positive association with the more extensive pattern of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Education for mothers about appropriate breast and bottle-feeding practices should be considered in health promotion strategies.