Abstract

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS TOWARD THEIR CHILDREN’S ORAL HEALTH: A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY AMONG SUBPOPULATION IN CHENNAI (INDIA)

Sooreesha Shivani Arangkulavan*, Shantha Sakthi, Deepa Gurunathan

Abstract

Aim: Parental attitudes towards children’s oral health determine the attitudes and practices of their children. This consecutively depends on the knowledge, attitude, and practices among parents which is being seeded to their children. Objective: The objective was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers toward their children’s oral health. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 206 mothers of preschool children who visited Saveetha Dental College in Chennai, India. Data were collected through a structured proforma. Results: Majority 83.3% showed fair attitude, 70% exhibited fair knowledge, and 66.7% showed poor practices towards a children’s oral health. Lack of knowledge regarding the role of fluorides, causes and prevention of dental caries, gum disease, and malocclusion were found among the respondents. Conclusion: This study showed that mothers had fair knowledge and attitude with poor practices towards their children’s oral health which can be improved with effective oral health education.

Keywords: knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers toward their children’s oral health.