Evaluation of oral-health related knowledge and attitudes among mothers of children under 4 years old

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ABSTRACT

Aim

To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of mothers of children under 4 years old about oral health in Turkey.

Material and methods

This study is a cross-sectional questionnaire submitted to 401 mothers with children aged under of 4 years who came to the Pediatric Dentistry Clinics of Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa and Altınbaş University Faculty of Dentistry. The questionnaire comprised of 3 sections with total of 33 closed questions regarding socio-demographic information and knowledge and attitudes of the mothers about the oral health of their children. The independent t-test and the Pearson’s correlation test were used.

Results

The question that was most correctly answered by mothers (89%, n=357) was “When should you change your child’s toothbrush?”.On the other hand, the question that was most incorrectly answered (89.7%, n=360) was “When should your child have snacks or sugary drinks?”. The sources from which mothers get information about oral health are dentists (55.6%), friends (36.4%) and media (15.4%), respectively. There is a statistically significant relationship between regular dental visits by mothers and taking children to the dentist for the first time fo a check-up, and the knowledge score (p=0.000; p=0.000). Furthermore, there is a statistically significant weak positive correlation between the mothers’ knowledge score and their attitudes toward dietary habits (r=0.338, p=0.000) as well as preventive oral and dental health practices (r=0.363, p=0.000).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it has been noted that mothers who regularly visit the dentist have a greater understanding of oral hygiene. Additionally, mothers who possess knowledge about oral care are more likely to prioritize scheduling appointments for their children with a paediatric dentist for check-up purposes.

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