The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to disclose parental attitudes toward their children's dental care and preventive measures used as well as to evaluate their associations with parental education and socioeconomic status. Materials and methods: A total of 1248 parents of 7-, 9...

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Main Authors: Kristina Saldūnaitė, Eglė Aida Bendoraitienė, Eglė Slabšinskienė, Ingrida Vasiliauskienė, Vilija Andruškevičienė, Jūratė Zūbienė
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-01-01
Series:Medicina
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1010660X14000494
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author Kristina Saldūnaitė
Eglė Aida Bendoraitienė
Eglė Slabšinskienė
Ingrida Vasiliauskienė
Vilija Andruškevičienė
Jūratė Zūbienė
author_facet Kristina Saldūnaitė
Eglė Aida Bendoraitienė
Eglė Slabšinskienė
Ingrida Vasiliauskienė
Vilija Andruškevičienė
Jūratė Zūbienė
author_sort Kristina Saldūnaitė
collection DOAJ
description Background and objective: The aim of this study was to disclose parental attitudes toward their children's dental care and preventive measures used as well as to evaluate their associations with parental education and socioeconomic status. Materials and methods: A total of 1248 parents of 7-, 9-, and 12-year-old children from 5 largest Lithuanian cities were enrolled in the study. The questionnaire comprised 34 items, which were grouped into 4 clusters. Results: The parents with a high educational level scored better than those who had a low educational level (2.13 [SD, 0.39] vs. 2.2 [0.43], P = 0.002). The parents who reported sufficient-family income scored their child's and their own health significantly better than those reporting insufficient-family income (2.02 [SD, 0.37] vs. 2.27 [SD, 0.41], P < 0.001). The parents cared about their child's health more than about their own (1.53 [SD, 0.51] vs. 2.15 [0.61], P < 0.001). The parents with a high educational level and those receiving sufficient income cared about education on oral hygiene and regular preventive dental check-ups more than those with a low educational level and insufficient income (36.7% and 40.8% vs. 30.2% and 28.7%, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). The children whose parents had a high educational level brushed their teeth 2 times a day more frequently than those of the parents with a low educational level (48.5% and 42.4%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Greater attention to children's dental care as well as keeping their teeth healthy was paid by the parents with a high educational level and sufficient income.
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spelling doaj.art-3381d9eee82c4ce4acd4f21434ec6db12023-09-02T17:33:08ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X2014-01-0150315616110.1016/j.medici.2014.07.003The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian childrenKristina SaldūnaitėEglė Aida BendoraitienėEglė SlabšinskienėIngrida VasiliauskienėVilija AndruškevičienėJūratė ZūbienėBackground and objective: The aim of this study was to disclose parental attitudes toward their children's dental care and preventive measures used as well as to evaluate their associations with parental education and socioeconomic status. Materials and methods: A total of 1248 parents of 7-, 9-, and 12-year-old children from 5 largest Lithuanian cities were enrolled in the study. The questionnaire comprised 34 items, which were grouped into 4 clusters. Results: The parents with a high educational level scored better than those who had a low educational level (2.13 [SD, 0.39] vs. 2.2 [0.43], P = 0.002). The parents who reported sufficient-family income scored their child's and their own health significantly better than those reporting insufficient-family income (2.02 [SD, 0.37] vs. 2.27 [SD, 0.41], P < 0.001). The parents cared about their child's health more than about their own (1.53 [SD, 0.51] vs. 2.15 [0.61], P < 0.001). The parents with a high educational level and those receiving sufficient income cared about education on oral hygiene and regular preventive dental check-ups more than those with a low educational level and insufficient income (36.7% and 40.8% vs. 30.2% and 28.7%, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). The children whose parents had a high educational level brushed their teeth 2 times a day more frequently than those of the parents with a low educational level (48.5% and 42.4%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Greater attention to children's dental care as well as keeping their teeth healthy was paid by the parents with a high educational level and sufficient income.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1010660X14000494Oral healthParental educationIncome
spellingShingle Kristina Saldūnaitė
Eglė Aida Bendoraitienė
Eglė Slabšinskienė
Ingrida Vasiliauskienė
Vilija Andruškevičienė
Jūratė Zūbienė
The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children
Medicina
Oral health
Parental education
Income
title The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children
title_full The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children
title_fullStr The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children
title_full_unstemmed The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children
title_short The role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among Lithuanian children
title_sort role of parental education and socioeconomic status in dental caries prevention among lithuanian children
topic Oral health
Parental education
Income
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1010660X14000494
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