Self-reported knowledge and behaviors related to oral and dental health in Turkish children


EFE E., SARVAN S., Kukulu K.

Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, cilt.30, sa.4, ss.133-146, 2007 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 30 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2007
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/01460860701728337
  • Dergi Adı: Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.133-146
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Health education, Oral and dental health
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Aim: The purpose of the study was to present oral- and dental health-related knowledge and behaviors of children who presented to Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Pediatric Outpatient Clinic between March 1 and May 1, 2006 for non-dental health reasons. Method: Data were collected from a total of 173 children. A survey which contained questions about the children's oral and dental health was completed using face-to-face interview technique.Results: Forty-eight percent of the children were 5-6 years old and 68.8% were not going to school. It was determined that 43.3% of the mothers of the children in the study had a primary-school level of education and 74.6% were housewives. It also was determined that 49.1% of the children had never had a cavity, 43.4% stated that they brushed their teeth after meals, and 30.6% stated that they brushed at least once a day. More than sixty percent of the children spent their allowance on chocolate, chips, cola, candy, and other acidic drinks. A significant relationship was found between the children's ages and having a caries in this study. There also was a statistically significant relationship between the parents' tooth-brushing habit and the children's tooth brushing, and between the parents' frequency of tooth brushing and the children's frequency of tooth brushing.Conclusion: Based on the results of the study it is recommended that both children and their families be given education about oral and dental health.