| This study is from the program "preventive dentistry planning and operation" of the scientific research project "integrated model of dental prevention and treatment of urban and rural residents", which is supported by the National Ministry of Health. Our research took place mainly in northwestern China, specifically Xi’an, Shaanxi province. Surveys were given to school-aged children and their parents during2011-2012, and the effects of attitude and knowledge of oral health, family income, parental education were analyzed to determine the relevant factors for their behaviors and caries index. The oral health KAP (knowledge attitude belief practice) factor and caries index of parents and the oral health behaviors and caries index of their children were further analyzed. Moreover, to assess the situation of the average town in Xi’an, we aimed to determine the level of awareness of oral behavior factors and oral health status and to determine the relationship between these two factors, in school-aged children and their parents. The aim of this study was to provide supporting data and implementation guidance in order to establish dental prevention systems in urban areas throughout Xi’an and to provide an important basis for population oral health intervention programs and policies.1. Oral health questionnaire among parents of school-aged childrenAIM:To investigate the oral health KAP factor of parents of school-aged children in Xi’an and analyze the impact of parents’oral health behaviors on their children in order to develop targeted prevention measures. METHODS:We chose parents from five primary schools in Xincheng District, Xi’an, to complete this oral health KAP questionnaire. A total of585parents aged31to40were included in the survey. SPSS was used to analyze the relevant factors that affect the oral health behavior of the population. RESULTS: Significant differences were found for the following:gender and the frequency of brushing, brushing time, and brushing method; oral health attitudes and the frequency of brushing, brushing time, brushing method, use of fluoride toothpaste, use of a flossing case, frequency of routine oral examination, and care-seeking behavior; oral health knowledge and brushing frequency, brushing time, brushing method, toothbrush changing, the use of fluoride toothpaste, and frequency of routine oral examination; household income and method of brushing and flossing; frequency of brushing, brushing technique, and the use of a fluoride toothpaste case and the frequency of routine oral examination. CONCLUSION:Oral health attitudes, knowledge of oral health, household income, education background, and gender were the major factors.2. Parents’oral health KAP and caries index analysisAIM:To investigate the oral health KAP risk factors for caries in parents from Xincheng, Xi’an, thus providing a theoretical basis for strategies for the prevention of caries. METHODS:A total of585parents aged31-40from Xincheng, Xi’an, were selected and randomly divided into two groups according to DMFT:a carious group (DMFT>1, n=324) and a noncarious group (DMFT=0, n=261). Both groups received oral health examination and a questionnaire on oral health knowledge and behaviors to determine relevant factors. RESULTS:The incidence of caries in people of parents of school-aged children from Xincheng, Xi’an, was55.4%, and the average number of caries was1.85±2.370. A single factor X2test showed that there were significant differences (P <0.05) in gender distribution, education background, tooth-brushing method, frequency of routine oral examination, awareness of oral health, knowledge of oral health, and family income between the carious and noncarious groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that there were correlations among the following factors and occurrence of caries:gender, education background, tooth-brushing method, awareness of oral health, and view of the cost of going to a dentist in proportion to income. There was a higher incidence of caries among populations that were female, less educated, who applied the wrong method of tooth-brushing, and who had little awareness of oral health. In addition, the carious population tended to accept a higher cost for going to a dentist. CONCLUSION:In people of parents of school-aged children, strengthening oral health KAP and showing them the correct tooth-brushing method will be beneficial. Females and people from a low education background should be targeted for prevention of caries.3. Oral health behaviors relevant factors survey of school-aged childrenAIM:To investigate the status of and analyze the factors affecting oral health behavior in school-aged children from Xi’an in order to provide the basis for the development of targeted preventive measures. METHODS:Children aged7-9from five primary schools in Xincheng District, Xi’an, were given an oral health KAP survey for statistical analysis of the relevant factors affecting oral health behaviors in this population. RESULTS:Significant differences were found for the following:gender and number of children that snacked before going to sleep; parents’attitudes toward their children’s oral health and whether children ate snacks after using mouthwash, the age at which children started brushing, how frequently children brushed, how frequently parents supervised their children’s brushing, whether the child had received local fluoride for prevention of caries, whether children received routine oral examination, and the number of their children that saw a doctor; household income and whether children ate snacks after using mouthwash, the number of days a child brushed, the number of children whose brushing their parents supervised, and whether children received routine oral examination; whether children were educated about the risks of snacking before going to sleep, the age at which children started brushing, the incidence of daily brushing, whether parents supervised their children’s brushing, whether the child had received local fluoride for prevention of caries, whether children received routine oral examination, and the number of dental visits of the children. CONCLUSION:The attitude of parents toward their children’s oral health, family income, and a parent’s education of children’s oral health behavior played major roles on these results, suggesting we can make a positive impact on the children’s oral health by improving parents’attitude to children’s oral health.4. School-aged children’s oral health behavior and caries index analysisAIM:To investigate the behavioral risk factors of school-aged children from Xi’an and their correlation with caries in order to provide the basis for the development of targeted prevention measures. METHODS:Children aged7-9from five primary schools in Xincheng District, Xi’an, were given an oral health KAP factor questionnaire. Children were checked for oral caries and divided into two groups based on DMFT number as follows:the carious group (dmft+DMFT>l, n=351), and the non-carious group (dmft+DMFT=0, n=188); these two groups were compared and statistically analyzed based on the oral health KAP questionnaire and other factors. RESULTS:The incidence of caries in7-to9-year-old school-aged children in Xi’an was59.6%, with an average DMFT of1.80±2.225. A single factor X2test showed significant differences between the two groups in snacking before going to sleep, acceptance of a pit and fissure sealant, acceptance of local fluoride for prevention of caries, acceptance of a conventional oral examination, whether the children saw the number of teeth with caries, parents’attitudes towards their children’s oral health, and other factors. A logistic regression analysis showed that snacking before going to sleep, whether the child received routine oral examination, and whether the child saw the number of teeth with caries showed a correlation. Children who ate snacks before going to sleep were at high risk for dental caries. CONCLUSION:Strengthening oral health behavior of school-aged children through education is necessary to guide children’s oral health behavior; combining education with early treatment of oral diseases in school-age children will have a more practical impact on strategies to prevent caries.5. Analysis of the relationship between the oral health of school-aged children and the oral health of their parentsAIM:To explore the interaction of KAP and caries index between school-aged children and their parents from Xi’an in order to provide a basis for the development of targeted prevention measures. METHODS:A group of7-to9-year-old school-aged children and their parents from five primary schools in Xincheng District, Xi’an, were given an oral health questionnaire and an oral examination to determine the relevant factors that affect children’s oral health behaviors and their caries index, respectively, and to determine the interaction of the two by statistical analysis. RESULTS:The attitude of the parents of school-aged children from Xi’an towards their own oral health, the attitude of the parents towards allowing their children to snack before going to sleep, whether children snacked after using mouthwash, whether children would not start brushing until they were in their teens, the frequency with which the children brushed their teeth, whether children brushed their teeth with parental supervision, whether the child received pit and fissure sealant, whether children accepted the oral examination, and whether the children saw the number of teeth with caries showed a significant difference There was a significant difference in a parent’s knowledge of their own oral health and whether children snacked before going to sleep, whether children would be in their teens before beginning to brush, the incidence of daily brushing in children, and whether parents supervised their children’s brushing. There were significant differences between the caries indexes of the parents and whether children snacked before going to sleep. The caries index of parents correlated with that of their children. CONCLUSION:Parents’oral health self-knowledge and attitude and caries index have a major impact on children’s oral health behavior factors; the caries index of parents affects the incidence of caries in their children; Tips to strengthen parents’oral health education and guidance is one of the effective ways to promote children’s oral health. |
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