Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
June 2019
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Electronic ISSN:
2515-1746
Vol:
36
Issue:
2

Relationship between Caregivers’ Oral Health Literacy and their Child’s Caries Experience

10.1922/CDH_4444Baskaradoss07



Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between caregivers’ oral health literacy (OHL) and the dental caries experience of
their child. Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 caregiver/child dyads at a paediatric dental centre in Saudi
Arabia. The OHL was assessed using an Arabic translated version of Comprehensive Measure of Oral Health Knowledge (CMOHK-A)
questionnaire. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency was assessed using the appropriate statistical methods. Main Outcome Measure:
Childrens’ dental caries experience was assessed using the DMFT and deft index (decayed, missing/extracted, filled teeth) for permanent
and primary teeth respectively. Results: The mean age of the caregivers and children was 37.9±7.9 years and 8.3±3.1 years respectively.
Most children (87.7%) had dental caries experience (dmft > 0) and the mean DMFT/deft was 5.2±4.0. The means±standard deviations
(SD) for untreated caries (DT/dt), missing/extracted teeth (MT/et) and filled teeth (FT/ft) were 2.6±2.5, 0.5±0.9 and 2.1±2.2 respectively.
Multivariate linear regression models showed that caregivers› educational levels and OHL scores were associated with the child’s untreated
caries levels. Caregivers’ gender, educational levels and their perception of the child’s oral health were significant predictors for child’s
lifetime caries experience. Children of caregivers with low OHL had more untreated caries than children of caregivers with adequate OHL.
Conclusion: This study found better caregiver OHL levels to be associated with lower caries experience for their child.

Keywords: Children; caries, DMFT; health education; health literacy; oral health

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
111
Page End
117
Authors
Jagan Kumar Baskaradoss, Mashael Fahad AlThunayan, Jood Asem Alessa, Sarah Saad Alobaidy, Reem Sami Alwakeel, Aljazy Hamad Alshubaiki, Ruba Saud Alhudayris, Sarah Khaled AlMotlag, Amrita Geevarghese

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - How soon is soon enough? The challenge of implementing behaviours conducive to good oral health in at-risk infants and toddlers
  2. 89
  3. 90

  1. Patient and professional engagement in the procurement of dental services
  2. 91
  3. 94

  1. A qualitative study on the oral health of humanitarian migrants in Canada
  2. 95
  3. 100

  1. What influences use of dental services by the Korean disabled people? The role of perceived barriers in dental care system
  2. 101
  3. 105

  1. In-school toothbrushing programs in Aboriginal communities in New South Wales, Australia: A thematic analysis of teachers’ perspectives
  2. 106
  3. 110

  1. Relationship between Caregivers’ Oral Health Literacy and their Child’s Caries Experience
  2. 111
  3. 117

  1. What evidence do economic evaluations in dental care provide? A scoping review
  2. 118
  3. 125

  1. The Effectiveness of Reform in the Dental Health Systems of Transitional Countries: The Case of Montenegro Health Reform (pilot study)
  2. 126
  3. 130

  1. Costs of dental care and its financial impacts on patients in a population with low availability of services
  2. 131
  3. 136

  1. Identifying the barriers and facilitators for homeless people to achieve good oral health
  2. 137
  3. 142

  1. Comparison of two measures to determine the oral health-related quality of life in elders with periodontal disease
  2. 143
  3. 149

  1. Transnational corporations and oral health inequalities; an introduction
  2. 151
  3. 151

  1. Political economy, trade relations and health inequalities: lessons from general health
  2. 152
  3. 156

  1. Transnational corporations and oral health: examples from the sugar industry
  2. 157
  3. 162

  1. The Transnational Tobacco Industry and Oral Health
  2. 163
  3. 168

  1. Transnational corporations, oral health and human agency: a sociological perspective
  2. 169
  3. 174