CORELATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS AND EATING HABITS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS DURING COVID-19 HOME CONFINEMENT. A STUDY AMONG KASHMIRI CHILDREN

Dr. Mohamad Arshid Khanday* M.D.S and Dr. Nazia Lone, M.D.S.

ABSTRACT

Aim and objectives: The pandemic has challenged health professions such as Dentistry. And concerns regarding dentist’s and patient’s safety pushed to the reduction of routine dental care. The changes in diet, economic issues and fear, added to the lack of preventive dental care and enforced stay-at home orders. Thus, this study aimed to assess the fear level, dietary choices and parent’s oral health perceptions during the stay-at-home orders period in Kashmiri children. Methodology: A structured questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire contained 19 mandatory questions about socioeconomic and demographic dates, fear income variability, eating habits and parent’s oral health perceptions. and forwarded to parents and caregivers of children aged 0–12 years who visited in the department of pedodontics and preventive dentistry of Govt Dental college and hospital Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir India. A total of 56 participants completed the survey. The answers obtained were tabulated in Excel and the statistical analysis was performed. Results: The great majority of respondents (80%) were parents (mother/father), with an average age of 38 years. Most families (70%) disclosed a reduction in income, with 60% reporting a slight reduction and 25% drastic reduction or total loss of income. Regarding the oral hygiene 87.5% of parents reported brushing their children’s teeth during the pandemic, 7.5% brushed sometimes and only 5% did not brush. Conclusion: The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic goes far beyond that of a viral infection and threatens to undo decades of hard-won progress in pediatrics. The impact on nutrition and lifestyle is one of the submerged parts of this iceberg with potential intergenerational consequences The true burden of the pandemic in children is yet to be unveiled.

Keywords: COVID-19; lockdown; psychological effects; emotional eating; lifestyle; eating behavior.