Relationship between oral health literacy of caregivers and the oral health-related quality of life of children: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate oral health decisions. However, scientific evidence about the oral health literacy of caregivers and the children's oral health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship between the level of oral health literacy of caregivers and the children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL). METHODS: This study was conducted with children aged 2 to 4 in Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil. Six hundred thirty children were examined to assess the prevalence of dental caries (dmft index). Parents were interviewed to obtain sociodemographic status, oral conditions, and oral health literacy (OHL). The variable outcome was the children's OHRQOL as assessed by the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). We fitted zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) models to evaluate associations between the study outcome and covariates in terms of PR (Prevalence Ratios), RR (Rate Ratios), and their respective Confidence Intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Children's OHRQOL was not associated with OHL. Dental caries had a negative impact on the children's quality of life (p < 0.05). A reduced impact on OHRQOL is also associated with having siblings (PR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.95). A higher age of the mother reduced OHRQOL impacts (PR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.52-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: The factors associated with children's OHRQOL were the number of siblings, the mothers' age, and dental caries. This study observed no association between parental OHL and children's OHRQOL.

How oral health literacy and parental behavior during the meals relate to dental caries in children.

This cross-sectional study aimed to verify the influence of parental behavior on the development of dental caries in children by assessing parents' behavior during their children's meals and their parental level of oral health literacy. This study was conducted with children aged 2 to 4 in Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil. Six hundred and thirty children were examined to assess the prevalence of dental caries (dmft index). Parents answered a questionnaire related to socio-demographic conditions, oral health literacy (OHL), and the parents' behavior during the meal - Parent Mealtime Action Scale - (PMAS). The analysis fitted zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) models to assess unadjusted and adjusted associations between the study outcome and covariates. In the unadjusted analysis, the child's age, the number of siblings, household crowding, family income, socioeconomic status and OHL were associated with the outcome (p <0.05). In the adjusted model, dental caries was more prevalent among 3- (PR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.19-2.87) and 4-year-old children (PR: 2.43, 95%CI: 1.60-3.71), those with at least one sibling (PR: 1.66, 95%CI:1.18-2.33). Poor children were more likely to have dental caries (PR: 0.66, 95%CI: 0.48-0.91); the Use of Rewards dimension of the PMAS was associated positively with dental caries severity (RR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.84-0.97). Although OHL was not associated with caries, parents' mealtime behaviors were related to dental caries. This suggested that communication between parents and children related to good eating practices could play a protective role against dental caries in children.

How oral health literacy and parental behavior during the meals relate to dental caries in children

Abstract This cross-sectional study aimed to verify the influence of parental behavior on the development of dental caries in children by assessing parents' behavior during their children's meals and their parental level of oral health literacy. This study was conducted with children aged 2 to 4 in Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil. Six hundred and thirty children were examined to assess the prevalence of dental caries (dmft index). Parents answered a questionnaire related to socio-demographic conditions, oral health literacy (OHL), and the parents' behavior during the meal - Parent Mealtime Action Scale - (PMAS). The analysis fitted zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) models to assess unadjusted and adjusted associations between the study outcome and covariates. In the unadjusted analysis, the child's age, the number of siblings, household crowding, family income, socioeconomic status and OHL were associated with the outcome (p <0.05). In the adjusted model, dental caries was more prevalent among 3- (PR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.19-2.87) and 4-year-old children (PR: 2.43, 95%CI: 1.60-3.71), those with at least one sibling (PR: 1.66, 95%CI:1.18-2.33). Poor children were more likely to have dental caries (PR: 0.66, 95%CI: 0.48-0.91); the Use of Rewards dimension of the PMAS was associated positively with dental caries severity (RR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.84-0.97). Although OHL was not associated with caries, parents' mealtime behaviors were related to dental caries. This suggested that communication between parents and children related to good eating practices could play a protective role against dental caries in children.