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Effects of Dental Caries on Nutritional Status Among First-Grade Primary School Children
Yaowaluk Ngoenwaiatkul, MPH, DrPH*
and
Niramon Leela-adisorn, DDS, MSc
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dtynw{at}mahidol.ac.th.
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Abstract |
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The aim of this study was to explore association between caries prevalence and nutritional status among first-grade primary school children. A cross-sectional study of 212 students was conducted. All students were weighed and measured and then the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Each student underwent dental examination and was interviewed. Overall, caries prevalence was 80.2% and the average decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (dmfs) were 12.4 ± 12.3. Although none of the students was in the underweight category, 45.8% were in low percentile (5th < BMI-for-age < 15th). Multiple logistic regression showed that each extra carious surface (dmfs) increased the odds of being at risk for underweight (5th < BMI-for-age < 15th) by 3.1% after adjusting for gender and dental visits. Our findings stressed that caries has significant implications on overall child health and health personnel should increase awareness of negative impacts and promote healthy nutritional choices for children.
First published on February 4, 2009, doi:10.1177/1010539509331787
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health 2009;21:177.
A more recent version of this article appeared on April 1, 2009

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