Purpose: To analyze the oral health behaviors of disabled children and their parents' oral health knowledge, attitudes in Shanghai city, and to provide information support for designing oral health care programs and making relevant policies.
Methods: By using stratified cluster sampling method, a questionnaire was given to 1381 parents of disabled children. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software package.
Results: The awareness rate of oral health knowledge among parents of disabled children was 67.21%, and 78.98% of parents had positive attitudes towards oral health. 13.61% of disabled children took sweet snacks before sleep, only 45.98% of disabled children brushed their teeth twice or more daily. 42.65% of disabled children used fluoride toothpaste, and 88.12% never flossed their teeth. The percentage of disabled children who had never visited a dentist was 49.75%.
Conclusions: Oral health behaviors of disabled children in Shanghai city need to be improved, and the parents' oral health knowledge level is low. Customized educational programs should be carried out for parents, in order to strengthen oral health education in the suburban areas.