IDENTIFYING RISK FACTORS OF SEVERE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES IN INFANTS FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors for S-ECC among infants under 24 months of age living in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out. Considering inclusion criteria, the total sample consisted of 192 examined infants under 24 months of age. Parents/caregivers were interviewed ahead of each dental examination of children. Following data collection, outcome measures were: the presence/absence of S-ECC (children with at least one active early carious lesion on the smooth surfaces of the maxillary anterior teeth/caries-free children) and the severity of dental caries (no caries, initial caries and cavitated caries lesion). Results: Overall results of the study indicated that 22.9% of infants had initial caries, while 12.0% (95% CI: 8.1-17.3) of infants had at least one cavitated carious lesion. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age of infants (p < 0.001) and family monthly income (p = 0.003) variables were statistically significant predictors for the development of caries. Conclusions: This research found that the most important risk predictors for the development and severity (intensity) of S-ECC in infants under 24 months of age were low monthly income of parents and the infant's age.