台灣台東縣學齡前兒童的咀嚼能力與進食行為之關係探討

A study on masticatory ability and eating behaviors for preschool children in Taitung County, Taiwan

目標：本研究旨在瞭解台東縣學齡前兒童咀嚼能力與進食行為之現況，及探討影響咀嚼能力之因素。方法：採用咀嚼力判定口香糖檢測咀嚼能力和研究者自編之「兒童進食行為調查表」為工具，以分層叢集抽樣方式，抽取台東縣滿五足歲403位學齡前兒童為研究對象。採用卡方檢定與多變項羅吉斯迴歸進行資料分析。結果：(一)約22.83%兒童咀嚼能力較弱，約26.30%經常會喜歡吃軟不喜歡吃硬的食物。(二)以多變項羅吉斯迴歸分析顯示，影響兒童咀嚼能力較弱之顯著因子包括：從不吃早餐、每天都吃零食、很偏食、不會吃東西細嚼慢嚥、經常會狼吞虎嚥、經常會吃東西咬一咬吐出來、經常會食物久含在口中、經常會喜歡吃軟不喜歡吃硬的食物、經常會邊吃飯邊看電視及經常會邊吃飯邊喝水或喝湯。結論：兒童咀嚼能力近二成半屬於弱的程度，進食時咀嚼動作愈不確實會提高咀嚼能力愈弱的風險，建議改變烹飪形式和提供稍微較硬的食物，並宣導牙齒保健和正確咀嚼進食，如不偏食、關掉電視專心吃飯及叮嚀細嚼慢嚥。

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the current status and factors related to the masticatory ability and eating behaviors of preschool children in Taitung County, Taiwan. Methods: The study subjects included 403 five-year-old preschool children in Taitung County, Taiwan. The study tools included a masticatory ability test (color-changeable chewing gum) and questionnaire on eating behaviors. All data obtained were analyzed using a chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: (1) Among the children studied, 22.83% had reduced masticatory ability. Further, 26.30% avoided eating chewy foods regularly. (2) The multiple logistic regression analysis indicated various eating behaviors that were associated with the poor masticatory ability of preschool children. These behaviors were never eating breakfast, having a snack daily, having particular food preferences, unable to chew food properly, eating quickly, regularly spitting out after chewing, usually keeping food in the mouth for a long time, preferring soft foods to hard foods, eating while watching television, and generally eating while drinking water (other beverages) or consuming soup. Conclusions: Almost onequarter of the included preschool children had poor masticatory abilities. The masticatory ability of the preschool children correlated with their eating behaviors. Based on these results, it is recommended to change cooking methods or to provide harder foods and to promote the concepts of good oral hygiene and eating behaviors such as a balanced diet, no television while eating, and eating slowly.