IADR Abstract Archives
Assessment of Parents' Current Knowledge on Oral Health and Prevention
Objectives: Children depend on their parents and caretakers for maintenance of their oral health.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge of parents in Monastir city, toward their children's oral health care and prevention of tooth decay and to determine the influence of parental socio demographic variables on knowledge.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in pediatrician's waiting room in Monastir, Tunisia; during the month of October 2020 to December 2020 after taking prior informed consent from the 195 patients. Ethical clearance was obtained.
The questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic and education variables, knowledge about oral health prevention, caries and its transmission, parents and children's oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors and role of fluoride.
The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Pearson chi-square test, the ANOVA test and miltiple Linear Regression analysis used to assess the relationship between knowledge and the different characteristics of the sample.
Results: The overall score of knowledge of oral health and hygiene was 9.41. The mean knowledge score among mothers (9.45) was slightly greater than fathers (9.35). The parents having less than three children have better knowledge, of which the parents with one child have better scores. Similar results with higher educational level were statistically significant. Majority of parents recognized many preventive dental aspects like the number of daily brushing, the nature of the toothbrush of the child dental, and caries as an infectious disease. However, it was revealed that there was limited knowledge of parents about the importance of early acquisition of tooth brushing, the ideal time of first dental visit and role of fluoride.
Conclusions: The oral health knowledge among the participants was relatively low. Parents should get better education in oral health knowledge in order to influence their children in gaining better irak health.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge of parents in Monastir city, toward their children's oral health care and prevention of tooth decay and to determine the influence of parental socio demographic variables on knowledge.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in pediatrician's waiting room in Monastir, Tunisia; during the month of October 2020 to December 2020 after taking prior informed consent from the 195 patients. Ethical clearance was obtained.
The questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic and education variables, knowledge about oral health prevention, caries and its transmission, parents and children's oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors and role of fluoride.
The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Pearson chi-square test, the ANOVA test and miltiple Linear Regression analysis used to assess the relationship between knowledge and the different characteristics of the sample.
Results: The overall score of knowledge of oral health and hygiene was 9.41. The mean knowledge score among mothers (9.45) was slightly greater than fathers (9.35). The parents having less than three children have better knowledge, of which the parents with one child have better scores. Similar results with higher educational level were statistically significant. Majority of parents recognized many preventive dental aspects like the number of daily brushing, the nature of the toothbrush of the child dental, and caries as an infectious disease. However, it was revealed that there was limited knowledge of parents about the importance of early acquisition of tooth brushing, the ideal time of first dental visit and role of fluoride.
Conclusions: The oral health knowledge among the participants was relatively low. Parents should get better education in oral health knowledge in order to influence their children in gaining better irak health.