Knowledge and attitude about the importance of maintaining primary dentition in parents of the Cercado de Lima District

Abstract

To determine the influence of parents on the development of healthy oral hygiene habits in children. A basic, descriptive, prospective, and cross-sectional research was carried out using a 15-question questionnaire instrument, with which information on the educational level, age, and sex of the parents was collected. In order to determine the adjustment of the probability distributions to each other, the non-parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied. Subsequently, the statistical tests of Kendall’s Tau and Spearman’s Correlation were used at a significance level of p < 0.05. Most parents demonstrated a medium level of knowledge and attitude toward the importance of maintaining primary dentition, regardless of their educational level, gender, or age. However, the study did not find significant relationships between these factors and knowledge or attitude on the topic. Similarly, attitude showed average levels in general, with no critical relationship with education, gender, or age. Parents generally had a medium level of knowledge and attitude, regardless of their educational status, gender, or age. There are no significant relationships found between these factors (education, sex, and age) and the level of knowledge and attitude about the importance of preserving primary dentition.