In view of the association between early childhood caries (ECC])and maternal social risk factors, this study tried to determine if there were associations between indicators of processes, outputs and outcomes of women’s empowerment, and the prevalence of ECC. In this ecological study, indicators measuring the explanatory variables - economic empowerment, decision-making and violence against women - were selected from the Integrated Results and Resources Framework of the UN-Women Strategic Plan 2018–2021 and WHO database. Indicators measuring the outcome variables - the prevalence of ECC for children aged 0 to 2 years, and 3 to 5 years - were extracted from a published literature. The general linear models used to determine the association between the outcome and explanatory variables were adjusted for economic level of countries. Regression estimates (B), 95% confidence intervals and partial eta squared (η2) were calculated. Countries with more females living under 50% of median income had higher prevalence of ECC for 3 to 5-year olds (B = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.12, 3.52). Countries with higher percentage of women participating in their own health care decisions had higher prevalence of ECC for 0 to 2-year-olds (B = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.03, 1.67). Countries with higher percentage of women participating in decisions related to visiting family, relatives and friends had higher prevalence of ECC for 3 to 5-year-olds (B = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.03, 1.32). None of the indicators for violence against women was significantly associated with the prevalence of ECC. Empowerment of women is a welcome social development that may have some negative impact on children’s oral health. Changes in policies and norms are needed to protect children’s oral health while empowering women.

中文翻译：

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妇女的经济赋权、参与决策和遭受暴力是儿童早期龋齿的风险指标。

鉴于幼儿龋齿 (ECC]) 与母亲社会风险因素之间的关联，本研究试图确定妇女赋权的过程、产出和结果指标与 ECC 的患病率之间是否存在关联。在这项生态研究中，衡量解释变量的指标——经济赋权、决策和暴力侵害妇女行为——选自联合国妇女署 2018-2021 年战略计划的综合结果和资源框架和世卫组织数据库。衡量结果变量的指标——0 至 2 岁和 3 至 5 岁儿童的 ECC 患病率——是从已发表的文献中提取的。用于确定结果和解释变量之间关联的一般线性模型根据国家的经济水平进行了调整。计算了回归估计 (B)、95% 置信区间和部分 eta 平方 (η2)。收入中位数低于 50% 的女性较多的国家 3 至 5 岁儿童的 ECC 患病率较高（B = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.12, 3.52）。参与自己的医疗保健决策的女性比例较高的国家 0 至 2 岁儿童的 ECC 患病率较高（B = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.03, 1.67）。参与与探亲、亲戚和朋友有关的决策的女性比例较高的国家 3 至 5 岁儿童的 ECC 患病率较高（B = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.03, 1.32）。暴力侵害妇女行为的所有指标都与 ECC 的患病率没有显着相关性。赋予妇女权力是一个受欢迎的社会发展，可能对儿童的口腔健康产生一些负面影响。