Early Childhood Oral Health and Nutrition in Urban and Rural Nepal

Chloe Tsang, Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, Priya Patel, Brett Lewis, Debbie Huang, Kristina Ronsin, Ashmita Baral, Aparna Bhatta, Nehaa Khadka, Howard Barkan and Sidhanta Gurung
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Chloe Tsang: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Karen Sokal-Gutierrez: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Priya Patel: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Brett Lewis: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Debbie Huang: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Kristina Ronsin: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Ashmita Baral: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Aparna Bhatta: Self-Reliant Center, Kathmandu 44700, Nepal
Nehaa Khadka: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Howard Barkan: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Sidhanta Gurung: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-11

Abstract: Globalization and urbanization in Nepal have driven a nutritional transition from an agricultural-based diet to an ultra-processed, sugary diet. This study assessed the nutrition and oral health of 836 children age 6 months to 6 years and their families in rural and urban Nepal. Mothers were interviewed about maternal–child oral health and nutrition, and children received dental exams and height and weight measurements. Analyses utilized SPSS statistical software. Most families lived within a 5-minute walk to a store selling ultra-processed snacks and sugary drinks. While most mothers knew sweets caused tooth decay, half of the children were given sweets daily, and 58.2% of children had dental caries. Caries began in the first 2 years and increased in prevalence and severity to age 6, when 74.3% had caries and 20% experienced mouth pain. Despite greater health knowledge and resources among urban mothers, urban children’s increased access to junk food and frequency of consumption was associated with higher prevalence and severity of caries compared to rural children. Severe caries was associated with malnutrition, especially in rural children. Preventive strategies are needed in early childhood to incorporate nutrition and oral health education and dental care into maternal–child health services, and develop policies to prohibit the sale of junk food around schools.

Keywords: oral health; nutrition; diet; dental caries; urbanization; mothers; child; Nepal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2456-:d:247281

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