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

Abstract

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.

Percepción parental de calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral en niños de 6 a 10 años

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Oral health of adolescents in West Africa: prioritizing its social determinants

“…Oral health literacy refers to the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, understand and utilize basic health information and services necessary to make appropriate oral health decisions [ 24 ]. Low levels of education and literacy across West Africa are risk factors for adolescent caries as countries like Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, and Senegal are among the least literate African countries with literacy rates below 50% [ 25 ].…”

Promotion of dental and oral health for school dental health program teachers at elementary school level in the Sukoharjo Regency

“…Kesehatan mulut adalah komponen penting dari kesehatan yang berkontribusi terhadap kesejahteraan dan kualitas hidup setiap individu dengan memberikan dampak positif terhadap kesehatan fisik, sosial dan mental, penampilan dan hubungan interpersonal (Velasco et al, 2022). Pendidikan kesehatan mulut pada anak sekolah sangat penting karena kebiasaan mulut yang sehat dikembangkan sejak dini (Nurhayati & Wuri, 2020).…”