Digit Sucking, Age, Sex, and Socioeconomic Status as Determinants of Oral Hygiene Status and Gingival Health of Children in Suburban Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
This study determines prevalence of digit sucking and gingivitis, and association among age, sex, socioeconomic status, presence of digit-sucking habits, oral hygiene status (OHS), and gingivitis among a group of Nigerian children.


METHODS
Data of 992 children aged 1 to 12 years recruited through a household survey conducted in Osun State, Nigeria were analyzed. Information on age, sex, socioeconomic status, and history of digit-sucking habits were collected. Children were assessed for OHS and severity of gingivitis using the simplified oral hygiene index and the gingival index, respectively. Predictors of presence of gingivitis and poor oral hygiene were determined using multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
One (0.2%) and 454 (93.0%) children aged 1 to 5 years had poor oral hygiene and mild gingivitis, respectively. Twenty-two (4.4%) and 361 (72.9%) children aged 6 to 12 years had poor oral hygiene and mild gingivitis, respectively. The odds of having poor oral hygiene (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20 to 0.35; P <0.001) and gingivitis (AOR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.31; P <0.001) was significantly reduced for children aged 1 to 5 years. The odds of having gingivitis was increased in children with low socioeconomic status (AOR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.32 to 3.31; P = 0.002). There was no significant relationship among sex, digit sucking, OHS, and presence of gingivitis.


CONCLUSIONS
A digit-sucking habit did not increase chances of having poor oral hygiene and gingivitis. Increasing age and low socioeconomic status were factors that significantly increased chances of having poor oral hygiene and gingivitis.
['Agbaje|Hakeem O|HO|', 'Kolawole|Kikelomo A|KA|', 'Folayan|Morenike O|MO|', 'Onyejaka|Nneka K|NK|', 'Oziegbe|Elizabeth O|EO|', 'Oyedele|Titus A|TA|', 'Chukwumah|Nneka M|NM|', 'Oshomoji|Olusegun V|OV|']
D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D005891:Gingivitis D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D008297:Male D009549:Nigeria D009910:Oral Hygiene D009911:Oral Hygiene Index D012923:Social Class
oral hygiene gingivitis Nigeria Child