Do Maternal Oral Health-Related Self-Efficacy and Knowledge Influence Oral Hygiene Behavior of their Children?

Soltani, Raheleh; Ali Eslami, Ahmad; Mahaki, Behzad; Alipoor, Mikaeil; Sharifirad, Gholamreza

doi:10.22038/ijp.2016.6997

Do Maternal Oral Health-Related Self-Efficacy and Knowledge Influence Oral Hygiene Behavior of their Children?

Authors

¹ Departments of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Health,Isfahan University of Medical Sciences,Isfahan, Iran

² Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Bio-Statistics and Epidemiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

⁴ Unit of Oral and Dental Health, Health Chancellor, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

⁵ Department of Public Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

10.22038/ijp.2016.6997

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to assess the effects of maternal self-efficacy and oral health-related knowledge on pre-school children oral hygiene behavior.
Materials and Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 301 mothers with children aged 2–6 years old randomly selection from health centers of Tabriz, Iran. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires including demographic characteristics, maternal self-efficacy, oral health-related knowledge, and children’s oral hygiene behavior. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 using one-way ANOVA, Independent samples t-test, and multiple linear regressions at 95% significant level.
Results
The mean age of children was 4.1(standard deviation [SD] =1.4; range: 2–6 years). The mean score (SD) of children oral hygiene behavior was 5.4 (1.9). The mean score (SD) of mothers knowledge and self-efficacy were 4.9 (1.8) and 46.6 (14.8), respectively. 44.2% (133/301) of mothers had low self-efficacy and 55.8% (168/301) high self-efficacy. The children oral hygiene behavior was significantly and positively associated with maternal self-efficacy (r = 0.517, P < 0.001) and oral health-related knowledge (r = 0.363, P < 0.001).
Conclusion
According to the results of this study, mothers’ self-efficacy and knowledge was the strongest predicator of children oral hygiene behavior. So, educational interventions to improve maternal self-efficacy and knowledge may be beneficial for children oral health habits.

Keywords