Oral Health Literacy of Parents of Preschoolers

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Health Sciences
Degree name
Master of Health Sciences
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Health Sciences
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2010
Authors
Veerasamy, Arthi
Abstract

Aim: The aim of this project was to find the level of oral health literacy of parents of preschool age children regarding their child’s oral health. The primary objective was to improve the oral health status of preschoolers and to prevent early childhood caries. Methods: 117 participants (parents of preschoolers) completed a self-administered oral health literacy questionnaire. Data obtained from the study was analysed using a statistical package (SPSS). Firstly, descriptive analysis was undertaken generating tables and graphs of sociodemographic variables. Later, associations between oral health literacy and sociodemographic variables were identified and also relation between parents’ oral health literacy and their attitude towards water fluoridation in Christchurch was identified using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Psychometric analysis was generated to test validity and reliability of the oral health literacy questionnaire. Results: In the total sample, 38% of participants had poor oral health literacy regarding their child’s oral health. The results also indicated that there were associations present between parents’ oral health literacy and socio-demographic variables such as ethnicity, education and family income. Nearly half of the parents opted for water fluoridation in Christchurch. A strong association between parents’ oral health literacy and their attitude towards water fluoridation was identified. In the total sample, 40% of parents were not aware of need for first dental visit before the school age. Reliability was good for the developed oral health literacy instrument. Conclusions: This study of parents’ oral health literacy in Christchurch, New Zealand identified association of oral health literacy and socio-demographic variables which gives future guidance to improving oral health status of New Zealand children. The relation 6 between parents’ oral health literacy and their attitude towards water fluoridation was shown in this study. This result might be used in future water fluoridation surveys. Future studies are needed to examine health care provider’s perspective in improving parents’ oral health literacy and to tailor more effective public health interventions to improve parents’ oral health literacy.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Health literacy, Oral Health Literacy, Dental Health Literacy, Water Fluoridation, Parent's Oral Health Knowledge, Early Childhood caries, Parents' attitude towards children's oral health, Parents' oral health literacy, Oral Health of Preschoolers.
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
Copyright Arthi Veerasamy