A cross-sectional study of mothers' oral health literacy on oral health status of children.

IF 0.9 4区医学 Q3 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Community dental health Pub Date : 2025-09-01 Epub Date: 2025-06-29 DOI:10.1177/0265539X251355305

Aida Nourian, Leili Tapak, Fahimeh Daneshyar, Maryam Afshari

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: In Iran, few studies have been conducted on children's oral and dental indices and the effect of mothers' oral health literacy on these indices. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the level of mothers' oral health literacy (OHL) in relation to the oral health status of children attending dental clinics, compared to comprehensive health services.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in Iran, we examined the oral health of 436 children aged 3-12 and their mothers. The study utilized the WHO's pathway model and the Fisher-Owens framework to assess structural, intermediate, and direct factors influencing oral health. Data were collected through clinical examinations and interviews, focusing on demographics, oral health literacy (Adult Oral Health Literacy Questionnaire), and behaviors (Children's Oral Health Behavior Questionnaire).

Results: The dental health assessment indicated moderate levels of decayed, missing, and filled teeth, affecting 42.6% of individuals in comprehensive health services and 45.7% in dental clinics. In both groups, children's oral health behavior improved with older siblings, age, and a smaller household size (p < 0.05). In dental clinics, higher maternal oral health literacy was linked to a lower incidence of dental issues (IRR = 0.73, p = 0.007). Children of mothers with higher education exhibited a lower incidence rate of dental problems compared to those with housewife mothers (IRR = 0.75, p = .001). Additionally, moderate oral health behavior in children correlated with a reduced incidence of dental issues compared to poor oral health behavior (IRR = 0.50, p = .001).

Conclusions: The study's findings indicate that higher maternal oral health literacy is positively associated with improved oral health in children. This underscores the significance of educational initiatives designed to enhance mothers' understanding of oral health, ultimately contributing to better dental health outcomes for their children.

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母亲口腔健康素养对儿童口腔健康状况的横断面研究。

目的：在伊朗，很少有关于儿童口腔和牙齿指数以及母亲口腔健康素养对这些指数的影响的研究。进行这项研究的目的是确定母亲的口腔健康素养水平（OHL）与在牙科诊所就诊的儿童的口腔健康状况之间的关系，并将其与综合保健服务进行比较。方法：在伊朗进行的横断面研究中，我们检查了436名3-12岁儿童及其母亲的口腔健康状况。本研究利用WHO通路模型和Fisher-Owens框架来评估影响口腔健康的结构性、中间和直接因素。通过临床检查和访谈收集数据，重点关注人口统计学、口腔健康素养（成人口腔健康素养问卷）和行为（儿童口腔健康行为问卷）。结果：口腔健康评估显示，42.6%的综合卫生服务人员和45.7%的牙科诊所人员存在中等程度的蛀牙、缺牙和补牙。在两组中，儿童的口腔健康行为随哥哥姐姐、年龄和家庭规模的减小而改善（p < 0.05）。在牙科诊所，较高的产妇口腔卫生知识与较低的牙齿问题发生率相关（内部比值比= 0.73,p = 0.007）。与家庭主妇的孩子相比，受过高等教育的母亲的孩子的牙齿问题发生率较低（IRR = 0.75, p = .001）。此外，与不良口腔健康行为相比，中度口腔健康行为与降低牙齿问题发生率相关（IRR = 0.50, p = .001）。结论：本研究结果表明，较高的母亲口腔健康素养与儿童口腔健康的改善呈正相关。这突出了旨在提高母亲对口腔健康的了解的教育举措的重要性，最终有助于改善其子女的牙齿健康结果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Community dental health 医学-牙科与口腔外科

CiteScore

2.20

自引率

11.80%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The journal is concerned with dental public health and related subjects. Dental public health is the science and the art of preventing oral disease, promoting oral health, and improving the quality of life through the organised efforts of society. The discipline covers a wide range and includes such topics as: -oral epidemiology- oral health services research- preventive dentistry - especially in relation to communities- oral health education and promotion- clinical research - with particular emphasis on the care of special groups- behavioural sciences related to dentistry- decision theory- quality of life- risk analysis- ethics and oral health economics- quality assessment. The journal publishes scientific articles on the relevant fields, review articles, discussion papers, news items, and editorials. It is of interest to dentists working in dental public health and to other professionals concerned with disease prevention, health service planning, and health promotion throughout the world. In the case of epidemiology of oral diseases the Journal prioritises national studies unless local studies have major methodological innovations or information of particular interest.