Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
The knowledge and beliefs of parents have an impact on their children’s general and oral health. The objective of this study is to assess knowledge, attitude, and behavior of parents and identify possible associated factors of early childhood caries (ECC) in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Paren...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Dentistry Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/10/12/218 |
| _version_ | 1797460644191010816 |
|---|---|
| author | Afnan A. Nassar Buthaina A. Fatani Othoob T. Almobarak Shahad I. Alotaibi Reem A. Alhazmi Abdullah A. Marghalani |
| author_facet | Afnan A. Nassar Buthaina A. Fatani Othoob T. Almobarak Shahad I. Alotaibi Reem A. Alhazmi Abdullah A. Marghalani |
| author_sort | Afnan A. Nassar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The knowledge and beliefs of parents have an impact on their children’s general and oral health. The objective of this study is to assess knowledge, attitude, and behavior of parents and identify possible associated factors of early childhood caries (ECC) in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Parents aged 18 and older were invited to complete a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Questions covered demographics, knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding ECC etiology and prevention. Of the 644 parents who completed the questionnaire, 51.4% were not aware of the early signs of tooth decay, such as white lines. Pain and trauma were reported as the major reasons for a child to visit a dentist (42.4%). Only 37% of parents were aware of the importance of fissure sealant, and only 23% knew how it is applied. Compared with mothers, fathers were significantly less aware of hidden sugar and the relation between the frequency of consuming breast milk or bottled milk and caries development (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Similarly, fathers were more likely to believe that children could achieve effective teeth cleaning without parental assistance (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Preventive guidance should be provided by oral healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia to improve parents’ knowledge of ECC prevention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:08:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0307efa0584a4eb0a7949d81d88d059d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-6767 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:08:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dentistry Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-0307efa0584a4eb0a7949d81d88d059d2023-11-24T14:14:02ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672022-11-01101221810.3390/dj10120218Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional StudyAfnan A. Nassar0Buthaina A. Fatani1Othoob T. Almobarak2Shahad I. Alotaibi3Reem A. Alhazmi4Abdullah A. Marghalani5Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 2424, Saudi ArabiaDental Intern, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 2424, Saudi ArabiaDental Intern, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 2424, Saudi ArabiaDental Intern, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 2424, Saudi ArabiaDental Intern, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 2424, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 2424, Saudi ArabiaThe knowledge and beliefs of parents have an impact on their children’s general and oral health. The objective of this study is to assess knowledge, attitude, and behavior of parents and identify possible associated factors of early childhood caries (ECC) in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Parents aged 18 and older were invited to complete a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Questions covered demographics, knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding ECC etiology and prevention. Of the 644 parents who completed the questionnaire, 51.4% were not aware of the early signs of tooth decay, such as white lines. Pain and trauma were reported as the major reasons for a child to visit a dentist (42.4%). Only 37% of parents were aware of the importance of fissure sealant, and only 23% knew how it is applied. Compared with mothers, fathers were significantly less aware of hidden sugar and the relation between the frequency of consuming breast milk or bottled milk and caries development (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Similarly, fathers were more likely to believe that children could achieve effective teeth cleaning without parental assistance (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Preventive guidance should be provided by oral healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia to improve parents’ knowledge of ECC prevention.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/10/12/218attitudeschildhooddental cariesparentalpreventionknowledge |
| spellingShingle | Afnan A. Nassar Buthaina A. Fatani Othoob T. Almobarak Shahad I. Alotaibi Reem A. Alhazmi Abdullah A. Marghalani Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Dentistry Journal attitudes childhood dental caries parental prevention knowledge |
| title | Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Parents Regarding Early Childhood Caries Prevention of Preschool Children in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | knowledge attitude and behavior of parents regarding early childhood caries prevention of preschool children in western region of saudi arabia a cross sectional study |
| topic | attitudes childhood dental caries parental prevention knowledge |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/10/12/218 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT afnananassar knowledgeattitudeandbehaviorofparentsregardingearlychildhoodcariespreventionofpreschoolchildreninwesternregionofsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalstudy AT buthainaafatani knowledgeattitudeandbehaviorofparentsregardingearlychildhoodcariespreventionofpreschoolchildreninwesternregionofsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalstudy AT othoobtalmobarak knowledgeattitudeandbehaviorofparentsregardingearlychildhoodcariespreventionofpreschoolchildreninwesternregionofsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalstudy AT shahadialotaibi knowledgeattitudeandbehaviorofparentsregardingearlychildhoodcariespreventionofpreschoolchildreninwesternregionofsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalstudy AT reemaalhazmi knowledgeattitudeandbehaviorofparentsregardingearlychildhoodcariespreventionofpreschoolchildreninwesternregionofsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalstudy AT abdullahamarghalani knowledgeattitudeandbehaviorofparentsregardingearlychildhoodcariespreventionofpreschoolchildreninwesternregionofsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalstudy |