Knowledge and Attitude of Parents towards Oral Health Care Needs of their Children in Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine knowledge and attitude of parents about oral health care needs of their children in Abbottabad, District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Materials & Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among parents of young children that included teachers, doctors and general population in Abbottabad, district of KPK province, Pakistan. Non-probability, convenience sampling technique was used. The data was obtained via self-administered and structured questionnaire for knowledge and attitude of parents related to oral health care needs of their children; which was distributed among the parents through online resources. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 24. Descriptive statistics and Chi Square test were performed. P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: This study showed that the selected sample had relatively good knowledge regarding the importance of primary teeth. 74.2% of parents were of opinion that children’s teeth should be brushed properly to prevent dental caries. Among parents, mothers had adequate knowledge about dietary (91.4%) and feeding (73.6%) practices. Also, parents (79.4%) had an idea about effects of deleterious oral habits on permanent teeth and two-third (62.9%) of the total number knew that early removal/ decay of primary teeth will have an effect on permanent teeth. Conclusion: Parental awareness and attitude towards their children’s oral health was found to be relatively good. However, parents of young children need to be more educated in terms of first and regular dental visits in order to be able to maintain a sound primary and permanent dentition.