A Comparative of Parents of Preschool Children in Child Development Centers: Oral Care Behaviors and Associated Factors

Abstract

Caries is one of the important oral diseases. The symptoms of the disease will progress slowly and continuously. Preschool children are more likely to have this disease than other ages. This cross-sectional survey research aims to study the level of knowledge, oral care behavior level and to compare personal characteristics factors with oral care behaviors of 335 parents of preschool children in the Child Development Center, Phra Phrom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, using a questionnaire from a sample of 198 people, systematic random sampling. Data were collected during February-March 2021. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum and t-test was used to test the difference between the sample mean 2 groups. To compare two or more differences, use Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD). The results showed that the parents of preschool children had the knowledge of the general teeth in a low level and the oral health care in a high level. The overall knowledge of the parents was at a moderate level. In addition, the oral health care behaviors were at inappropriate levels. Moreover, different of educational level and parents' incomes had differences of the oral care behaviors of parents of preschool children. Suggestion: Activities to raise awereness for oral health care that are shared between parents of children, preschooler and child development center to jointly raise awareness and be able to take better care of oral health of preschool children.