Employment and The Occurrence of Early Childhood Caries(ECC) in Children Aged 2–3 Years at PosyanduRambipuji Village, Jember Regency

Introduction: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is one of the most common oral health problems in early childhood and can cause both short-‎term and long-term impacts on children’s quality of life, including the growth and development of permanent teeth. The occurrence of Early ‎Childhood Caries (ECC) is closely related to the level of parental involvement, particularly mothers’ involvement in paying attention to and ‎supervising children’s oral hygiene habits from an early age. This level of involvement is strongly influenced by the amount of time mothers ‎can spend with their children in daily life. Therefore, maternal employment status is presumed to be associated with the availability of ‎such time, which in turn may affect the intensity of maternal supervision and guidance in children’s oral health care. ‎ Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal employment and the occurrence of Early Childhood Caries ‎among children aged 2–3 years at Posyandu Rambipuji village, Rambipuji District, Jember Regency. ‎ Method: This study employed an observational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. The study subjects consisted of 63 children ‎aged 2–3 years who met the inclusion criteria. Data on ECC were obtained through clinical examination using the def-t index, while data on ‎maternal employment status were collected using a demographic questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using univariate and bivariate ‎analyses with Fisher’s Exact Test.‎ Results: The results showed a statistically significant association between maternal employment status and the occurrence of Early ‎Childhood Caries among children aged 2–3 years. Children of working mothers tended to have higher def-t scores compared to those of ‎non-working mothers. The Fisher’s Exact test showed a p-value of 0.018, indicating a statistically significant association between maternal ‎employment status and Early Childhood Caries occurrence. ‎ Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between maternal employment status and the occurrence of Early Childhood Caries among ‎children aged 2–3 years at Posyandu Rambipuji village. This study can serve as an initial screening to identify children who are at a higher ‎risk of developing dental caries, particularly those whose mothers are employed. By understanding the characteristics of maternal ‎employment and the potential limitations in time that may affect mothers’ involvement in children’s oral health care, preventive efforts can be ‎implemented earlier and in a more targeted manner. Therefore, promotive and preventive oral health interventions can be focused on high-‎risk groups to more effectively reduce the occurrence of dental caries in early childhood‎.