Heins, Nicole (2021) Fop- en fruitspeen: kennis en gebruik onder ouders en verzorgers van jonge kinderen in Nederland. thesis, Dentistry.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background: Young children have a biological need to suckle. Pacifiers can be used to meet this need. In addition to positive effects, pacifiers can also have harmful effects on the development of the child's orofacial anatomy and oral motor skills. In the Netherlands, a pacifier variant was released a number of years ago: the ‘fruit-pacifier’. The fruit-pacifier is a type of "fresh food feeder“ into which different types of food such as fruit or vegetables can be placed. It is made of silicone and hard plastic; is large in size and perforated - Allowing the baby to come into contact with juice and the puree. In addition to the harmful effects of the large pacifier, the fruit-pacifier may increase risk of dental caries and erosion. Aim: to determine the use and knowledge of parents and carers of young children about the effects of the different pacifiers on oral health. This knowledge can provide insight into whether more information, education and health promotion are desirable. Methods: A pilot-tested personally administered cross-sectional online questionnaire used a convenience sample of pregnant women and parents/carers of children (0-4 years) attending the ‘Nine Months Fair’ in Amsterdam in 2021. Parental knowledge about the pacifier, fruit-pacier, early childhood caries and erosion as well as the use of these pacifiers were examined. Knowledge scores were made, based on correctly answered questions, for each different knowledge topic. Data was collected in REDCap. Descriptive analysis and logistic and linear regressions were used for statistical analyses. Results: Of the respondents (n=204), 97,1% were born in the Netherlands, 89,2% female, and 90,7% younger than 35. Most had dental check-ups at least once per year (91,2%), and 99,0% believed primary teeth were important. Potential pacifier effects were known to most participants (≥77,5%). The potential effects of the fruit-pacifier were known amongst 58,3% of the participants. Pacifiers were used by 56,4% of children. The pacifier was used by 91,3% of pacifier-users, mostly at bedtime (77,3%). The fruit-pacifier was used by 7,8% of pacifier-users, mostly to feed the child (88,9%). Participants who indicated that primary teeth were not important used the fruit-pacifier more often (OR=24,250; p=0,029). Knowledge regarding caries and erosion was not associated with fruit-pacifier use (OR=1,261; p=0,392 and OR=1,175; p=0,479) and no association existed between pacifier knowledge and pacifier use (OR=0,909; p=0,435) nor between fruit pacifier knowledge and fruit pacifier use (OR=0,808; p=0,417). Conclusion: Pacifiers were used by more than half of the children. Most-used was the ‘normal’ pacifier, mainly during bedtime; few used the fruit-pacifier, predominantly to feed the child. The potential effects of the pacifier on the child's oral health were better known than those of the fruit-pacifier. No association was found between parental knowledge and use of the pacifier or the fruit-pacifier. More education and information about the effects of the pacifier and fruit-pacifier is desirable, as is the development of informative material.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Gambon, dr. D.L. and Manton, prof. dr. D.J. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Mar 2023 13:16 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Mar 2023 13:16 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3452 |
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