Analysis of caries risk behavior aggregation status and influencing factors in children aged 7-12 years in Jinzhou City

Abstract

Background Non-brushing, snacking, and not utilizing oral services during mixed dentition are modifiable health risk factors for dental caries in school-age children. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries in school-age children, the prevalence of clustered risk behaviors, and related influencing factors. Methods A total of 2266 students aged 7–12 years old from five districts and counties of Jinzhou were recruited by the multi-stage cluster random sampling method for a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was collected from a parent or guardian with information on factors relevant to the child. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the prevalence of caries and clustered risk behaviors, and binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with clustered risk behaviors (P<0.05). Results Of the 2,266 children, ages 7–12, who responded to the study, 40.9% engaged in two or more concurrent oral health risk behaviors. Consuming snacks ≥ 2 times/day and not utilizing oral services were the two oral health risk behaviors that were most frequently clustered together. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that rural areas (OR = 0.642, P = 0.000), low education level of mothers (OR = 1.491, P = 0.000), and medium (OR = 1.277, P = 0.015) were independent influencing factors of oral health risk behavior clustering. After adjusting the three factors of gender, age, and urban and rural areas, the probability of clustering two and three oral health risk behaviors still increased with the severity of dental caries. Conclusions Oral health risk behaviors are common among school-age children, and rural children and children with low maternal education levels are the key groups for behavior improvement.