Relationship of family related factors with dental caries prevalence in 5 years old children of different schools of Hyderabad.

Abstract

Introduction: The habits children have included in life; continues to make the choices they make as adults. According to social learning theory these habits are derived through supervision, learning and modelling. For a child, most significant are primarily father and mother and their immediate family members. All these factors have the collective ability to influence the child's oral health outcomes.
 Objective: To examine the dental caries rate in 5 year’s old school children and influence of their family related habits and socio demographic factors on child’s dental caries experience and their oral health behavior.
 Methodology: This study conducted upon sample of 600 school children selected through random sampling from primary private and Government primary schools of Qasimabad Hyderabad Sindh during period of October 2015 to December 2015. 
 Results: shows that out of 600 children 330 (55%) were boys and 270 (45%) were girls. Boys 245 (40%) were affected from caries and 85 (14%) were free from caries. In relation to parental education; 44 (7.3%) child boys whom parents were highly educated were found affected by caries 44(7.3%), while 3 (0.5%) boys were free from caries. Girls whose parents were highly educated affected by caries were 44(7.3%), caries free were 12(2%) Boys whose parents have incomplete secondary education/ vocational school were affected by caries 162(27%) and caries free were 82(13.6%). Girls whose parents have incomplete secondary / vocational school were affected by caries 145 (24.1%). Boys whose parents were having low level of education affected by caries were 39(6.5%) while caries free were 0 (0%). Girls whose parents have low level of education were affected by caries were 69 (11.5%) while caries free were 0 (0%) .
 Conclusion: Life style choices are the habits that are formed in childhood and dictated as in adult hood. Thus, assessing family related risk factor regarding oral health is essential when conducting preventive treatment programs for children because education on oral hygiene maintenance and regular preventive dental health checkups are very important in order to prevent oral diseases.
 Key words: Dental Caries, primary dentition.