Relationship Between Prevalence of Dental Caries and Parental Knowledge and Practices Toward Oral Health of Children Aged 1 To 17 Years.
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Abstract
Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in children worldwide, affecting 60-90% of this population. It poses significant challenges to healthcare systems, impacting children's health, quality of life, and overall well-being. Understanding the role of parental knowledge and practices in preventing and managing dental caries is crucial for developing effective public health strategies and awareness campaigns that can reduce its incidence and promote better oral health in children. Aims and Objective: To investigate the relationship between the prevalence of dental caries and parental knowledge and practices related to the oral health of children aged 1 to 17 years. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2023, involving 1500 children aged 1 to 17 years. Data were gathered using a modified semi-structured questionnaire based on the WHO Oral Health Assessment for Children, focusing on parental knowledge and practices.Results: The prevalence of dental caries varied, with 42.5% of children having no caries and atleast 11.5% having one caries tooth. Significant associations were found between dental caries prevalence and parental education (p=0.002) and socio-economic status (p=0.001). Additionally, 66.4% of participants did not visit the dentist regularly, and practices like bottle feeding (88.4%) and frequent sugary food consumption (88.6%) were linked to higher caries rates. Brushing frequency (r=0.58, p=0.034) and duration (r=0.51, p=0.046) also correlated with caries prevalence.Conclusion: Parental knowledge and practices significantly impact dental caries prevalence, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions to reduce dental caries among children.