Emiko Fukumoto1, Satoshi Fukumoto2, Koji Kawasaki3, Reiko Furugen4, Masayasu Kitamura4, Yumiko Kawashita4, Hideaki Hayashida4, Hideki Fukuda4, Youichi Iijima4, Toshiyuki Saito4. 1. Assistant professor, at the Department of Oral Health, Unit of Social Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan;, Email: emiko-fukumoto@m.tohoku.ac.jp. 2. Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Oral Health and Development Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan. 3. Community Medical Network Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan. 4. Department of Oral Health, Unit of Social Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Although some studies have reported that breast-feeding and pacifier use influence finger-sucking, few have demonstrated whether the age at cessation of breast-feeding or pacifier use and persistent finger-sucking are related. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether the age at cessation of breast-feeding and pacifier use influenced persistent finger-sucking. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 555 36- to 47-month-olds was conducted in Nagasaki, Japan, using a questionnaire. Using the optimal cutoff point in a receiver-operating characteristic curve, the age was estimated at which cessation of pacifier use and breast-feeding had the most significant effect on persistent finger-sucking, and the estimated ages were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis, incorporating all the questions in the questionnaire as independent variables. RESULTS: The odds ratios for persistent finger-sucking when breast-feeding was stopped at an age younger than 12 months old or when pacifier use was stopped at an age younger than 14 months old were 3.77 (95 percent confidence interval (CI)=1.97-7.22) and 8.62 (95 percent CI=2.56-29.04), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cessation of breast-feeding before 12 months old or pacifier use before 14 months old was associated with persistent finger-sucking.
PURPOSE: Although some studies have reported that breast-feeding and pacifier use influence finger-sucking, few have demonstrated whether the age at cessation of breast-feeding or pacifier use and persistent finger-sucking are related. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether the age at cessation of breast-feeding and pacifier use influenced persistent finger-sucking. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 555 36- to 47-month-olds was conducted in Nagasaki, Japan, using a questionnaire. Using the optimal cutoff point in a receiver-operating characteristic curve, the age was estimated at which cessation of pacifier use and breast-feeding had the most significant effect on persistent finger-sucking, and the estimated ages were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis, incorporating all the questions in the questionnaire as independent variables. RESULTS: The odds ratios for persistent finger-sucking when breast-feeding was stopped at an age younger than 12 months old or when pacifier use was stopped at an age younger than 14 months old were 3.77 (95 percent confidence interval (CI)=1.97-7.22) and 8.62 (95 percent CI=2.56-29.04), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cessation of breast-feeding before 12 months old or pacifier use before 14 months old was associated with persistent finger-sucking.