Associations between Child Snack and Beverage Consumption, Severe Dental Caries, and Malnutrition in Nepal

Neha Zahid, Nehaa Khadka, Madhurima Ganguly, Tanya Varimezova, Bathsheba Turton, Laura Spero and Karen Sokal-Gutierrez
Additional contact information
Neha Zahid: School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
Nehaa Khadka: Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Madhurima Ganguly: School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Tanya Varimezova: School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Bathsheba Turton: Department of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh 12211, Cambodia
Laura Spero: Jevaia Foundation, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Karen Sokal-Gutierrez: School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: The global nutrition transition and increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed snacks have contributed to increasing rates of child obesity and dental caries in developing countries. In Nepal, where child malnutrition rates are high, the relationship between malnutrition and dental caries is poorly understood. This cross-sectional study aims to assess this relationship among a convenience sample of 273 children age six months to less than 12 years in three communities in Nepal, using parent/caregiver interviews, child dental exams, and anthropometric measurements. Fisher’s exact test and independent t-tests examined associations between dietary practices and severe caries and between severe caries and malnutrition, respectively. Children consumed sugar-sweetened beverages and processed snacks frequently: 80% consumed tea with sugar, 60% consumed sweet snacks, and 65% consumed processed savory snacks daily. Overall, 74% of children had untreated tooth decay, and 21% exhibited stunting malnutrition, 14% were underweight, and 6% presented wasting. Significant associations were found between daily consumption of sweets and processed snacks with severe caries and between severe caries and poorer nutritional status. These findings underscore the need to incorporate nutrition and oral health promotion and dental treatment into maternal–child health services and schools and to strengthen policies to reduce children’s access to junk food.

Keywords: oral health; dental caries; malnutrition; Nepal; sugar-sweetened beverages; junk food (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:7911-:d:436183

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