Parents' Knowledge and Attitudes toward Preschool's Oral Health and Early Childhood Caries

Safeena Abdul K Saheb; Mohammed Najmuddin; Abdulaziz M Nakhran; Nasser M Mashhour; Mohammed I Moafa; Alfadhl M Zangoti

doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2522

Parents' Knowledge and Attitudes toward Preschool's Oral Health and Early Childhood Caries

Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2023 Mar-Apr;16(2):371-375. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2522.

Authors

Safeena Abdul K Saheb¹, Mohammed Najmuddin², Abdulaziz M Nakhran³, Nasser M Mashhour³, Mohammed I Moafa³, Alfadhl M Zangoti³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthodontics; Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Oral Medicine; Department of Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
³ Intern College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Aim: The present cross-sectional study was done to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of caregivers toward oral health and early childhood caries (ECC) in preschool children in the Jazan population.

Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 105 study subjects, including parents of children, using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The demographic variables and information regarding the awareness and knowledge of caregivers were recorded. The data gathered were analyzed using statistical analysis using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software.

Result: Among 105 children, 66.7% were male, showing male predominance regarding ECC. Among parents, 52.4% were with a bachelor's degree. Most parents lack awareness in regard to dental caries affecting their children. Parents lack knowledge regarding various preventive and treatment options available.

Conclusion: The study revealed that caregivers had very less knowledge and clinical practice concern with the oral well-being of preschool kids. The study's results reveal that promotion programs in relation to oral health are required to cover the gaps of knowledge among mothers of kids related to the care of oral health in their young kids.

Clinical significance: Different health-concerned behaviors are being affected by awareness and knowledge, and the health of the oral cavity is not an exemption. It has been postulated that diseases of the oral cavity are affected by social factors. Thus, this study was conducted to find the connection between the knowledge of parents regarding their oral health and the status of the health of their children's oral cavities.

How to cite this article: K Saheb SA, Najmuddin M, Nakhran AM, et al. Parents' Knowledge and Attitudes toward Preschool's Oral Health and Early Childhood Caries. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):371-375.

Keywords: Awareness; Caregivers; Early childhood caries; Jazan; Knowledge; Preschool children.