Abstract
BackgroundThe objectives of this study were to assess the association between children and parents’ knowledge of caries preventive practices, the parents’ caries preventive oral health behaviours and children’s caries preventive oral health behaviour and caries experience.MethodThree hundred and twenty four participants aged 8–12 years, 308 fathers and 318 mothers were recruited through a household survey conducted in Suburban Nigeria. A questionnaire was administered to generate information on fathers, mothers and children’s knowledge of caries prevention measures and their oral health behaviour. Clinical examination was conducted on the children to determine their dmft/DMFT. Analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of the children’s good oral health behaviour.ResultThe mothers’ oral health behaviours were significant predictors of the children’s oral health behaviours. Children who had good knowledge of caries prevention measures had significant increased odds of brushing their teeth twice daily or more. The children’s caries prevalence was 13.9%, the mean dmft was 0.2 and the mean DMFT was 0.09. None of the dependent variables could predict the presence of caries in children.ConclusionThe study highlights the effect of maternal oral health behaviour on the oral health behaviour of children aged 8 years to 12 years in suburban Nigeria. A pilot study is needed to evaluate how enhanced maternal preventive oral health practices can improve the oral health preventive practices of children.
Highlights
The objectives of this study were to assess the association between children and parents’ knowledge of caries preventive practices, the parents’ caries preventive oral health behaviours and children’s caries preventive oral health behaviour and caries experience
The study highlights the effect of maternal oral health behaviour on the oral health behaviour of children aged 8 years to 12 years in suburban Nigeria
This would help inform the design of cost effective oral health education programmes for children
Summary
The objectives of this study were to assess the association between children and parents’ knowledge of caries preventive practices, the parents’ caries preventive oral health behaviours and children’s caries preventive oral health behaviour and caries experience. Individual’s oral health-related behaviours and their outcomes are influenced by individual, family and community level factors [1]. Children’s health-related attitude and behaviours are taught and adopted at home through a process called primary socialization Later, these attitude and behaviours are shaped and formalized through the community network formed with friends, peers and teachers and significant others the children interact with through a process called secondary socialization [16]. It is important to understand how significant the primary and secondary socialization processes are in the development of oral health behaviour of children in various cultures and communities. This would help inform the design of cost effective oral health education programmes for children. As a first step it is important to understand the prevention oral health care practices of children in various communities
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