Pacifier use in newborns: related to socioeconomic status but not to early feeding performance

Frequency and Predictors of Pacifier Use in the Low Socioeconomic Group of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Pacifier use has been popular for ages. They are prevalent all over the world because of their various perceived benefits. On the other hand, there is a common belief that they do carry health risks as well. Due to these contradicting belief systems, the frequency of their use, and the factors that determine them, need to be thoroughly evaluated. Since Pakistan is a developing country with a low literacy rate, it can be implied that a vast majority of the country's population may lack awareness regarding the advantages and disadvantages of pacifier use, making them incapable of weighing associated risks versus benefits. The data evaluating these factors in this region are however scarce in the published literature. We, therefore, aimed to highlight the frequency and predictors of pacifier use in the low socioeconomic group of Karachi, Pakistan. Materials and methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 300 mothers visiting a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. We included mothers who had at least one child under the age of two years, and whose child did not have any oro-nasal anomaly that could prevent them from sucking a pacifier. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Frequencies were calculated and presented in the form of tables. The chi-square test was used to determine the significance of all categorical variables. A P-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results Almost half of our respondents (49%) gave pacifiers to their children. A significant number (59%) of these mothers were uneducated. Almost all (97%) of the users had annual household income less than 15,000 Pakistani rupees (PKR); 34% were primiparous and more than two-thirds (71%) had a normal vaginal delivery. Out of all the factors, maternal age less than 20, annual household income less than 15,000 PKR, and primiparity were significantly associated with pacifier use in mothers (P<0.05). Only a half of the users (51%) cleaned the pacifiers by boiling; one-fourth (25%) washed it with water only; while 18% washed it with soap and water. The majority (84%) of the mothers used the pacifier to soothe the baby when upset. Among mothers who did not use a pacifier, about a third (30%) did not do so as they believed it's a bad practice. About one-fourth (27%) believed it was unhygienic. Conclusions Our study highlights the gap in the awareness of mothers regarding pacifier use. Using this data, we can target to disseminate specific information to this population to integrate safe and healthy child care habits in society.

Neonatal feeding performance is related to feeding outcomes in childhood

AIM

Define relationships of early feeding performance with feeding outcomes in childhood, while assessing the predictive validity of the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment.

STUDY DESIGN

Ninety-one infants (44 preterm infants born ≤32 weeks at term-equivalent age and 47 full-term infants within 4 days of life) had feeding evaluated using the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment and the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS). At 4 years of age, 39 of these infants (22 preterm infants and 17 full-term infants; 43% follow-up rate) had parent-report measures of feeding conducted using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) and Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PediEAT).

RESULTS

Lower Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment scores were related to higher PediEAT scores (p = 0.01; r = -0.44), but were not related to BPFAS scores (p = 0.17; r = -0.23). Relationships were not detected between the NOMAS and BPFAS (p = 0.35; r = 0.17), and relationships between the NOMAS and PediEAT failed to reach significance (p = 0.06; r = 0.34). There was a relationship between the BPFAS and PediEAT scores at 4 years (p < 0.001; r = 0.66). Preterm infants performed poorer than full-term infants on the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment (p < 0.001) and NOMAS (p < 0.001), but no differences were detected in preterm compared to full-term performance on the BPFAS (p = 0.87) and PediEAT scores (p = 0.27).

DISCUSSION

Neonatal feeding performance is an important predictor of feeding outcomes at 4 years of age. The Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment has predictive validity, and the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool has concurrent validity with relationships to another childhood feeding tool.

Correlation of Feeding Practices and Dental Caries among Preschool Children of Jazan, KSA: A Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

Breastfeeding is integral for the healthy development of infants during the first year of life. The objective of this study was to investigate the feeding practices and their effect on dental health among Saudi children in rural Jazan, the southern region of Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 participants from two villages namely Baish and Abu-Areesh of Jazan Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mothers whose children were above 2 years of age agreed for a face-to-face interview to discuss about feeding practices followed for their children. Later, these children underwent a complete dental examination.

RESULTS

In this study, it was found that a majority of mothers, 203 (61.15%) of them breastfed their children for less than a year, 105 (31.8%) of them breastfed for 2 to 4 years, and the remaining 22 (6.6%) of them breastfed for more than 4 years. Two hundred and forty-nine (75.15%) moms reported that they added sugar to milk while feeding and 259 (78.4%) mothers reported using sugar with pacifiers. Increased incidence of caries was seen with a statistically significant difference in children who were fed during sleep (p = 0.038), when the infant's teeth were not brushed after feeding (p = 0.004), and when sugar was added while feeding (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of dental caries was high in children who were fed during sleep and also in those kids using pacifiers containing sugar. Oral hygiene practices were also inadequate and positively associated with dental caries. These findings are suggestive of developing general and oral health interventions for children and also educating mothers on appropriate feeding practices.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Dahas ZAH, Khormi HAJ, Vishwanathaiah S, et al. Correlation of Feeding Practices and Dental Caries among Preschool Children of Jazan, KSA: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(4):327-331.