Early Feeding Practices among Saudi Mothers and Dental Caries in Young Children: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Several risk factors have been associated with Early Childhood Caries (ECC), including feeding practices, nocturnal feeding, delayed weaning from breast- or bottlefeeding, and parental awareness. The purpose of present study was to address a gap in the literature by examining the specific feeding practices of mothers in Jeddah and their relationship with dental caries, while also considering demographic and socioeconomic factors that may influence these practices. Aim: To assess the prevalence of breast- and bottle-feeding practices among Saudi mothers of healthy children aged 1 to 2 years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to investigate the relationship between various feeding practices and children’s demographic characteristics, maternal socioeconomic status, and maternal knowledge of appropriate feeding practices. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from September 2023 to December 2023. The study included mothers of children aged 1 to 2 years who participated in three community awareness events held across different areas of Jeddah. A trained dentist interviewed the mothers using a validated Arabic questionnaire to assess potential confounding factors. Data were analysed using the Independent t-test for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables, with a significance level set at p