The global nutrition transition and increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed snacks have contributed to increasing rates of child obesity and dental caries in developing countries. In Nepal, where child malnutrition rates are high, the relationship between malnutrition and dental caries is poorly understood. This cross-sectional study aims to assess this relationship among a convenience sample of 273 children age six months to less than 12 years in three communities in Nepal, using parent/caregiver interviews, child dental exams, and anthropometric measurements. Fisher’s exact test and independent t-tests examined associations between dietary practices and severe caries and between severe caries and malnutrition, respectively. Children consumed sugar-sweetened beverages and processed snacks frequently: 80% consumed tea with sugar, 60% consumed sweet snacks, and 65% consumed processed savory snacks daily. Overall, 74% of children had untreated tooth decay, and 21% exhibited stunting malnutrition, 14% were underweight, and 6% presented wasting. Significant associations were found between daily consumption of sweets and processed snacks with severe caries and between severe caries and poorer nutritional status. These findings underscore the need to incorporate nutrition and oral health promotion and dental treatment into maternal–child health services and schools and to strengthen policies to reduce children’s access to junk food.

The association between economic insecurity and mental health among low-income pregnant people is understudied. We examined the relationship between economic insecurity and perinatal stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among a low-income, racially/ethnically diverse study population, and differentiated associations by nativity status. We used cross-sectional data from the EMBRACE Study that enrolled Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) eligible pregnant people in the Central Valley region of California. Economic insecurity was assessed through measures of food insecurity, low financial well-being, inability to pay an emergency expense, inability to pay bills, fear of eviction, and history of homelessness. We examined the association of these measures with perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), generalized anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), adjusting for age, relationship status, and education level. We also examined effect measure modification by nativity among the Latinx population. We report the estimated differences and 95% confidence intervals for each exposure and outcome. In our sample of 674 participants, we observed associations between economic insecurity and mental health. Among the 24 models, 15 showed medium to large effects (>0.35 standard deviation differences) and only three showed negligible effect sizes. Across all outcomes, we observed a stronger relationship between economic insecurity and mental health for U.S.-born Latinx people compared with their foreign-born (93% Mexico-born) counterparts. We found low-income pregnant people experience significant economic insecurities that may impact mental health adversely. Programs that increase economic supports during pregnancy may serve as important maternal mental health interventions, especially among racial/ethnic minoritized groups.

The nutrition transition from traditional diets to processed snacks and sugary beverages has contributed to a higher burden of child malnutrition, obesity, and tooth decay. While child health interventions typically promote nutritious eating, they rarely promote oral health. Mothers’ motivations for child nutrition and oral health practices need to be better understood. A convenience sample of 102 mothers in eight rural Salvadoran communities participated in focus groups addressing child nutrition and oral health. Focus groups were transcribed and coded using qualitative content analysis. Primary themes included generational changes in health environments; health knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and access and barriers to health services. Mothers noted general improvements in awareness of oral hygiene but poorer child oral health, which they attributed to widespread sales of unhealthy snacks and beverages near schools. Distance and cost limited families’ access to dental services. Knowledge gaps included the belief that oral iron supplements cause tooth decay, uncertainty regarding when to start tooth brushing, and until when parents should help children brush. Maternal-child health programs should emphasize the adverse health consequences of feeding young children processed snacks and sugary drinks, and promote dental care access and regulations to ensure health-promoting environments surrounding schools.