Nutritional Status, Eating Behavior, and Hygiene Practices in Relation to Permanent Molar Caries Among 7–9-Year-Old Children in a High-Stunting Rural Community

Arie Nugroho; Sutrio Sutrio; Antun Rahmadi; Andi Eka  Yunianto

doi:10.12873/

Autores/as

Arie Nugroho Poltekkes Kemenkes Tanjung Karang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9178-7985
Sutrio Sutrio Nutrition Study Program, Poltekkes Kemenkes Tanjung Karang, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia.
Antun Rahmadi Nutrition Study Program, Poltekkes Kemenkes Tanjung Karang, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia.
Andi Eka Yunianto Nutrition Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Lampung, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5157-917X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12873/

Palabras clave:

stunting, eating behavior, personal hygiene, dental caries, permanent molar, school-aged children

Resumen

Background: Caries in the first permanent molar is a major oral health concern in nutritionally vulnerable rural populations. Children living in stunting-endemic areas may be at elevated risk due to suboptimal dietary habits and hygiene practices.
Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study involved 150 children aged 7–9 years from three elementary schools in a stunting locus village in Pesawaran District, Indonesia. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO Height-for-Age standards, while eating behavior and personal hygiene were measured using validated Guttman-scale questionnaires. Dental caries in the mandibular first permanent molar were examined clinically using WHO criteria. Chi-square tests were applied to determine associations (p<0.05).

Results: Most children had normal nutritional status (82%), while 18% were stunted. Eating behavior tended to be suboptimal, with 40% categorized as “not enough,” and 38% of the children demonstrated inadequate personal hygiene. Bivariate analysis showed no significant association between nutritional status and caries (p=0.729). However, eating behavior was significantly associated with caries (p=0.000), with the highest prevalence of poor caries status found among children with inadequate eating behavior (75%). Personal hygiene also showed a strong association with caries (p=0.000), as 87.7% of children with inadequate hygiene exhibited poor caries status.
Conclusion: Eating behavior and personal hygiene were significant determinants of caries in the lower first permanent molar, whereas nutritional status was not associated. Improving dietary habits and hygiene practices may effectively reduce caries risk in high-stunting rural communities.

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