Women’s economic empowerment, participation in decision-making and exposure to violence as risk indicators for early childhood caries

Abstract

Objectives: In view of the association between early childhood caries (ECC])and maternal social risk factors, this study tried to determine if there were associations between indicators of processes, outputs and outcomes of women's empowerment, and the prevalence of ECC. Methods: In this ecological study, indicators measuring the explanatory variables-economic empowerment, decision-making and violence against women-were selected from the Integrated Results and Resources Framework of the UN-Women Strategic Plan 2018-2021 and WHO database. Indicators measuring the outcome variables-the prevalence of ECC for children aged 0 to 2 years, and 3 to 5 years-were extracted from a published literature. The general linear models used to determine the association between the outcome and explanatory variables were adjusted for economic level of countries. Regression estimates (B), 95% confidence intervals and partial eta squared (η 2) were calculated. Results: Countries with more females living under 50% of median income had higher prevalence of ECC for 3 to 5-year olds (B = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.12, 3.52). Countries with higher percentage of women participating in their own health care decisions had higher prevalence of ECC for 0 to 2-year-olds (B = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.03, 1.67). Countries with higher percentage of women participating in decisions related to visiting family, relatives and friends had higher prevalence of ECC for 3 to 5-year-olds (B = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.03, 1.32). None of the indicators for violence against women was significantly associated with the prevalence of ECC. Conclusion: Empowerment of women is a welcome social development that may have some negative impact on children's oral health. Changes in policies and norms are needed to protect children's oral health while empowering women.

Understanding the factors associated with married women’s attitudes towards wife-beating in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Previous studies in Ethiopia [ 29 ] and Nigeria [ 30 ] reported similar findings. It is possible that women who had decision-making power would have opportunities to move and access information through their social networks [ 57 – 59 ]. Decision making power is an important concept for the woman herself and the society because the combination of access capabilities and actions shape whether women have influence over the decisions about their private lives, their health, and the health of their children and family [ 60 ].…”

Determinants of caries experience and the impact on the OHRQOL of 6-year-old Libyan children: a cross-sectional survey

“…Caries is a complex process that is initiated by acids produced by bacterial metabolism of fermentable carbohydrates [ 11 ], and influenced by a range of biological and behavioural, social and wider contextual factors [ 11 , 16 ]. For instance, caries development and progression is affected by individual’s behaviours such as sugar consumption, oral hygiene practices and dental attendance as well as social and wider contextual factors such as socioeconomic status [ 17 – 19 ], women’s empowerment and participation in decision making in the community [ 20 ] and political status in the country [ 21 ]. This may explain the worldwide variations in caries distribution and aetiology [ 19 , 22 , 23 ].…”

An ecological study on the association between early childhood caries and intimate partner violence in 20 low- and middle-income countries: 2007-2017

“…This evidence of increased child protection by mothers who have a history of sexual violence may also be reflected in the improved oral healthcare the children receive. There is however, research that demonstrated negative psychosocial impact of sexual violence with negative implications for the oral health of children 66 while another found no association between women’s experience of violence and ECC 67 . This finding needs to be studied further.…”