Oral health promoting factors: a preliminary survey on knowledge, attitude and practise among caregivers in Udaipur, India

• Published in: European archives of paediatric dentistry 2013-04, Vol.14 (2), p.105-112
• Main Authors: Nagarajappa, R., Batra, M., Sharda, A. J., Asawa, K., Sanadhya, S., Daryani, H., Ramesh, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Caregivers; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Day care centers; Demographics; Dentistry; Dentists; Education; Employees; Employment; Families & family life; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Knowledge; Medicine; Mothers; Nutrition research; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Original Scientific Article; Questionnaires; Sociodemographics; Statistical analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Validity; Working hours
• ISSN: 1818-6300; 1996-9805
• DOI: 10.1007/s40368-013-0020-0

Aim To assess the level and determine the relationship between knowledge, attitudes and practices related to oral health promoting factors among secondary caregivers attending day-care centres. Study Design A cross-sectional descriptive survey. Methods A survey was conducted among 110 caregivers in Udaipur. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire addressing aspects of knowledge, attitudes and practises of oral health promoting factors in children. Results Caregivers age, education and duration of employment were significantly associated with knowledge, attitude and practise scores ( p  ≤ 0.05). Primary job option and number of children under care were significantly associated with practise scores. A positive relationship was found between the average knowledge, attitude and practise scores of respondents, but this was not statistically significant ( p  ≥ 0.05). Statistics General Linear Model (GLM) with Bonferroni post hoc was used for statistical analysis. Conclusion Good understanding of caregiver knowledge and attitude is essential for oral health promotion efforts to be effective.