Parental Perceptions of Oral Health Status in Preschool Children and Associated Factors.

Monalisa Cesarino Gomes,Saul Martins Paiva,Edja Maria Melo De Brito Costa,Carolina Castro Martins,Marayza Alves Clementino,Tassia Cristina De Almeida Pinto-Sarmento,Ana Flávia Granville-Garcia

doi:10.1590/0103-6440201300245

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate parental perceptions of oral health status in preschool children. A cross-sectional study was carried with 843 Brazilian children between 3 and 5 years of age. Parents/guardians answered a self-administered questionnaire on the health of their children and sociodemographic data. Parental perceptions of their child's oral health were determined by the responses to the following question: "How would you describe your child's oral health?" The Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) was answered by parents/guardians and used to measure the impact of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) on preschool children and their families. Three examiners performed oral exams on the children (K= 0.85-0.90). Descriptive analytical statistics were carried out, followed by logistic regression for complex samples (α=5%). The following variables were significantly associated with parental perceptions of children's oral health: parental perception of general health as poor (OR=18.25; 95% CI: 3.36-98.96), negative impact on family's OHRQoL (OR=13.82; 95% CI: 4.27-44.72), child aged five years (OR=7.40; 95% CI: 1.49-36.63) and the interaction between history of toothache and dental caries (OR=10.02; 95% CI: 1.17-85.61). Thus, parental perceptions of oral health are influenced only by clinical conditions with symptoms, such as dental caries with toothache. Other oral conditions, such as malocclusion or traumatic dental injury, were not associated with parental perceptions of their child's oral health.

Highlights

Preschool children often have oral health problems, such as dental caries [1,2], traumatic dental injury (TDI) [3,4] and malocclusion [5], especially in deprived [1] and rural areas [2] with lower socioeconomic conditions and less access to health assistance
A total of 843 pairs of children and their parents/ guardians participated in the present study, corresponding to 97.56% of the total determined by the sample calculation
After the adjustments in the multiple logistic regression, the interaction between history of toothache and dental caries (OR=10.02; 95% CI: 1.1785.61), child aged five years (OR=7.40; 95% CI: 1.49-36.63), parental perception of general health as poor (OR=18.25; 95% CI: 3.36-98.96) and impact on family’s oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) (OR=13.82; 95% CI: 4.27-44.72) remained significantly associated with parental perception of general health in the final model (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Preschool children often have oral health problems, such as dental caries [1,2], traumatic dental injury (TDI) [3,4] and malocclusion [5], especially in deprived [1] and rural areas [2] with lower socioeconomic conditions and less access to health assistance. The success of such programs depends on awareness of parents/guardians regarding their child’s oral health status [6]. Parental perceptions are important in this phase due to the inability of preschool children to verbalize their emotions [7]. Adequate oral health care and visits to the dentist are associated with parental perceptions regarding children’s oral health [8]. Parents/guardians play the central role in ensuring their child’s wellbeing and are the main decision makers with regard to the child’s health care [7]

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Results

Conclusion