Frequency of consumption of cariogenic food items by 4-month-old to 24-month-old children: comparison between two rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The objective of the study was to compare the frequency of consumption of cariogenic food items among 4-month-old to 24-month-old children in two neighbouring rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa: Nyuswa/Embo (Area A) (n = 127) and Ndunakazi (Area B) (n = 105). Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Mothers or caregivers were interviewed by a team of Zulu-speaking fieldworkers. The percentage of children consuming the individual food items (consumers) and the weekly consumption for consumers were calculated for the two areas separately. The food items were ranked in descending order according to the combined group of children and reported for each area within five selected food groups (carbohydrates, sugars, fruit and vegetables, milk and milk products, and other foods and snacks). Food items were 'flagged' according to their cariogenic potential. Fisher's exact test on absolute numbers tested for significant differences in the frequency of intake between individual food items between the two groups. Significance was set at P < 0.05. The frequency of consumption of certain listed cariogenic food items showed significant differences between the two areas. A higher percentage of children in Area A than in Area B consumed most of the food items and also more frequently. Children mainly consumed foods with a cariogenic score of 2, solid foods with 8-20% sugars as well as foods high in starch with less than 10% sugars. This knowledge is essential to gain insight into the eating pattern among rural communities and will provide a baseline for developing and adapting dietary advice specifically for young rural South African children with particular emphasis on the prevention of dental caries.