Browsing by Author "Robert J. Schroth"

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    Open Access
    A scoping review on the association of early childhood caries and maternal gender inequality.
    (BMC Oral Health, 2023-07-26) Ivy Guofang Sun; Duangporn Duangthip; Charis Hiu-Kei Kwok; Chun Hung Chu; Yasmi O. Crystal; Robert J. Schroth; Carlos Alberto Feldens; Jorma I. Virtanen; Ola Barakat Al-Batayneh; Balgis Gaffar; Tshepiso Mfolo; Maha El Tantawi; Simin Z. Mohebbi; Hamideh Daryanavard; Morenike Oluwatoyin; Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group (ECCAG)
    Aim The objective of this scoping review is to present current evidence regarding the association between early childhood caries (ECC) and maternal-related gender inequality. Methods Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive literature search using three databases: EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science. Literature published in English from 2012 to 2022 was included in the search and was restricted to only primary research by using the following key terms: "dental caries", "tooth decay", "gender", "sex", "preschool", "toddler," and "infant". The included studies were limited to those reporting an association between ECC and maternal aspects related to gender inequality. Titles and abstracts were screened, and irrelevant publications were excluded. The full text of the remaining papers was retrieved and used to perform the review. The critical appraisal of selected studies was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools. Results Among 1,103 studies from the three databases, 425 articles were identified based on publication years between 2012 and 2022. After full-text screening, five articles were included in the qualitative analysis for this review. No published study was found regarding a direct association between ECC and maternal gender inequality at the level of individuals. Five included studies reported on the association between ECC and potential maternal-gender-related inequality factors, including the mother’s education level (n = 4), employment status (n = 1), and age (n = 1). Regarding the quality of the included studies, out of five, two studies met all JBI criteria, while three partially met the criteria.
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    Open Access
    Association Between Environmental Health, Ecosystem Vitality, and Early Childhood Caries
    (Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2020) Morenike O. Folayan; Maha El Tantawi; Robert J. Schroth; Arthur M. Kemoli; Balgis Gaffar; Rosa Amalia; Carlos A. Feldens
    Background: Environmental issues lead to serious health problems in young growing children. This study aims to determine the association between a country's level of environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC). Methods: This was an ecological study. The data for the explanatory variables—country-level environmental performance index (EPI), environmental health, and ecosystem vitality—were obtained from the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy. The outcome variables were country-level prevalence of ECC in 0- to 2-year-old and 3- to 5-year-old children. The country EPI, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality were matched with country ECC prevalence for 0- to 2-year-olds and 3- to 5-year-olds for the period of 2007 to 2017. Differences in the variables by country income level were determined using ANOVA. Multivariate ANOVA was used to determine the association between ECC prevalence in 0- to 2-year-olds and 3- to 5-year-olds, and EPI, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality, adjusting for each country's per-capita gross national income. Results: Thirty-seven countries had complete data on ECC in 0- to 2-year-old and 3- to 5-year-old children, EPI, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality scores. There were significant differences in ECC prevalence of 0- to 2-year-olds and 3- to 5-year-olds between countries with different income levels. Also, there were significant differences in EPI (P < 0.0001), environmental health score (P < 0.0001), and ecosystem vitality (P = 0.01) score by country income levels. High-income countries had significantly higher EPI scores than did low-income countries (P = 0.001), lower-middle-income countries (P < 0.0001), and upper-middle-income countries (P < 0.0001). There was an inverse non-significant relationship between ECC prevalence and EPI in 0- to 2-year-olds (B = −0.06; P = 0.84) and 3- to 5-year-olds (B = −0.30; P = 0.50), and ecosystem vitality in 0- to 2-year-olds (B = −0.55, P = 0.08) and 3- to 5-year-olds (B = −0.96; P = 0.02). Environmental health was directly and non-significantly associated with ECC in 0- to 2-year-olds (B = 0.20; P = 0.23) and 3- to 5-year-olds (B = 0.22; P = 0.32). Conclusions: There was a complex relationship between various indicators of environmental performance and ECC prevalence. The association with EPI and ecosystem vitality was inverse whereas the association with environmental health was direct. Only the inverse association with ecosystem vitality in 3–5 year old children was significant. There may be higher risk of ECC with greater economic development, industrialization, and urbanization, while better ecosystem vitality may offer protection against ECC through the rational use of resources, healthy life choices, and preventive health practices.
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    Open Access
    Correction to: An ecological study on the association between universal health service coverage index, health expenditures, and early childhood caries
    (BMC oral health, 2021) Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan; Maha El Tantawi; Jorma I. Virtanen; Carlos Alberto Feldens; Maher Rashwan; Arthur M. Kemoli; Rita Villena; Ola B. Al-Batayneh; Rosa Amalia; Balgis Gafar; Simin Z. Mohebbi; Arheiam Arheiam; Hamideh Daryanavard; Ana Vukovic; Robert J. Schroth
    Background Universal health care (UHC) may assist families whose children are most prone to early childhood caries (ECC) in accessing dental treatment and prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between UHC, health expenditure and the global prevalence of ECC. Methods Health expenditure as percentage of gross domestic product, UHC service coverage index, and the percentage of 3–5-year-old children with ECC were compared among countries with various income levels using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Three linear regression models were developed, and each was adjusted for the country income level with the prevalence of ECC in 3–5-year-old children being the dependent variable. In model 1, UHC service coverage index was the independent variable whereas in model 2, the independent variable was the health expenditure as percentage of GDP. Model 3 included both independent variables together. Regression coefficients (B), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), P values, and partial eta squared (ƞ2) as measure of effect size were calculated. Results Linear regression including both independent factors revealed that health expenditure as percentage of GDP (P < 0.0001) was significantly associated with the percentage of ECC in 3–5-year-old children while UHC service coverage index was not significantly associated with the prevalence of ECC (P = 0.05). Every 1% increase in GDP allocated to health expenditure was associated with a 3.7% lower percentage of children with ECC (B = − 3.71, 95% CI: − 5.51, − 1.91). UHC service coverage index was not associated with the percentage of children with ECC (B = 0.61, 95% CI: − 0.01, 1.23). The impact of health expenditure on the prevalence of ECC was stronger than that of UHC coverage on the prevalence of ECC (ƞ2 = 0.18 vs. 0.05).