Abstract
BackgroundDental caries and traumatic dental injury (TDI) can play an important role in the emergence of parental guilt, since parents feel responsible for their child’s health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of oral health problems among preschool children on parental guilt.MethodsA preschool-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with 832 preschool children between three and five years of age in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). The item "parental guilt" was the dependent variable. Questionnaires addressing socio-demographic variables (child’s sex, child’s age, parent’s/caregiver’s age, mother’s schooling, type of preschool and household income), history of toothache and health perceptions (general and oral) were also administered. Clinical exams for dental caries and TDI were performed by three dentists who had undergone a training and calibration exercise (Kappa: 0.85-0.90). Poisson hierarchical regression was used to determine the significance of associations between parental guilt and oral health problems (α = 5%). The multivariate model was carried out on three levels using a hierarchical approach from distal to proximal determinants: 1) socio-demographic aspects; 2) health perceptions; and 3) oral health problems.ResultsThe frequency of parental guilt was 22.8%. The following variables were significantly associated with parental guilt: parental perception of child’s oral health as poor (PR = 2.010; 95% CI: 1.502-2.688), history of toothache (PR = 2.344; 95% CI: 1.755-3.130), cavitated lesions (PR = 2.002; 95% CI: 1.388-2.887), avulsion/luxation (PR = 2.029; 95% CI: 1.141-3.610) and tooth discoloration (PR = 1.540; 95% CI: 1.169-2.028).ConclusionBased on the present findings, parental guilt increases with the occurrence of oral health problems that require treatment, such as dental caries and TDI of greater severity. Parental perceptions of poor oral health in their children and history of toothache were predictors of greater feelings of parental guilt.
Highlights
Dental caries and traumatic dental injury (TDI) can play an important role in the emergence of parental guilt, since parents feel responsible for their child’s health
The loss of 32 pairs was due to a lack of cooperation on the part of the child during the clinical examination (n = 6), incomplete questionnaires (n = 15), absence from preschool on the days scheduled for the examinations (n = 4) and “don’t know” responses on the B-Early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) item addressing parental guilt (n = 7)
The following independent variables were associated with parental guilt: age of child, parental perception of child’s general health and oral health as poor, history of toothache, dental caries, cavitated lesions and types of TDI
Summary
Dental caries and traumatic dental injury (TDI) can play an important role in the emergence of parental guilt, since parents feel responsible for their child’s health. Despite advances in the prevention and treatment of oral health problems, high prevalence rates of dental caries [1,2] and traumatic dental injury (TDI) [3,4] continue to be found among preschool children. These conditions can have a negative impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the family [5,6,7], since. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of children’s oral health problems on parental guilt in the representative, preschool-based sample
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
