Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common dental caries in children. The 2013 Indonesian basic health survey showed that there were still many children in developmental age affected by dental caries. Parents' participation is very necessary in guiding, giving understanding, reminding, and providing facilities so that children can maintain their overall oral hygiene. Hence, parents can prevent plaque accumulation and the occurrence of caries in children.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of husbands' support on the decision of mothers to take their children to the dentist.
Subjects and methods: This study used a cross-sectional method. The samples from this study were 95 mothers from 3 kindergartens in Surabaya. Ninety-five mothers were randomly chosen as research respondents and filled out the research questionnaires. The data obtained were processed using statistical analysis to determine the correlation.
Results: Research respondents with low husband support (subjective norms) who did not take their children to the dentist had a significant value (p = 0.004) compared to the study respondents with high husband support who did not bring their children to the dentist (p = 0.093).
Conclusion: Mothers with low support from husbands tend to have the attitude not to take their children to do routine dental and oral examinations.
Keywords: children dental care; dental health; health behavior; social support; theory of planned behavior.
© 2019 Bramantoro et al.