Anthropometric Indicators and Dental Caries in the Pediatric Population of Rural Communities in the Peruvian Amazon: a Cross-sectional Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Dental caries and nutritional alterations are common in childhood, particularly in rural communities with limited access to health services. Objective: To determine the association between anthropometric indicators and the presence of dental caries in children aged 5 to 11 years from selected rural communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 116 children from Llaylla, Pampa Hermosa, and Belén (Satipo, Junín). Body mass index for age (BMI/A), abdominal circumference for age (AC/A), and height for age (H/A) were assessed according to WHO and MINSA standards. Dental caries were evaluated using the DMFT/dmft index and the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries (pufa/PUFA). Associations between anthropometric variables and dental caries were analyzed using logistic regression adjusted for age and sex, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Children with overweight/obesity had a higher risk of caries in permanent dentition (OR=3.875) and a lower risk in primary dentition (OR=0.539). Those with high or very high risk according to AC/A showed OR=0.968 in permanent dentition and OR=0.864 in primary dentition. Children with low height for age (H/A) presented OR=1.319 in permanent dentition and OR=1.757 in primary dentition. All associations were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Dental caries is highly prevalent among Amazonian children. Anthropometric indicators were not significantly associated with caries, suggesting the influence of other factors such as diet and access to dental care.
Source: Revista Científica Odontológica
Institutions: Universidad de Huánuco, Universidad Continental
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4416829466