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    Oral Health Literacy of Parents of Preschoolers

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    Author
    Veerasamy, Arthi
    Date
    2010
    Permanent Link
    http://hdl.handle.net/10092/5116
    Thesis Discipline
    Health Sciences
    Degree Grantor
    University of Canterbury
    Degree Level
    Masters
    Degree Name
    Master of Health Sciences

    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.

    Subjects
    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.
    Collections
    • Education, Health and Human Development: Theses and Dissertations [667]
    Rights
    http://library.canterbury.ac.nz/thesis/etheses_copyright.shtml

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