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Oral health practices and knowledge among parents and hired caregivers

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European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

To investigate the oral healthcare practices and knowledge of parents and nannies in Kuwait.

Methods

A cross-sectional interview-based survey was carried out on parents and nannies to explore their demographics, oral health care practices and knowledge. Independent t-test was used to assess differences in practice and knowledge between parents and nannies. Multiple linear regression compared practice and knowledge of parents and nannies, adjusting for age, time spent in childcare, national origin, education, governorate of residence and number of other children in the household.

Results

Three-hundred caregivers were interviewed, parents (N = 146, 49%) and nannies (N = 154, 51%). Parents had a higher mean practice score (parents 3.25, nannies 2.69, p < 0.001), but a similar knowledge score to nannies (parents 38.0, nannies 37.6, p > 0.48). Governorate of residence predicted lower practice scores for parents residing north of the Kuwaiti capital compared to those residing elsewhere (β = − 0.571, p < 0.05). Education weakly predicted lower practice scores for nannies beyond high school, but better scores for parents with a college degree. Education also predicted higher knowledge scores among nannies with college degrees (β = 2.249, p = 0.06), but for the lower knowledge scores (β = − 3.693, p = 0.08) among parents with college degrees.

Conclusion

Caregivers’ oral health practices and knowledge scores were good. However, nannies had poorer child oral healthcare practices. Results highlight the need to involve nannies in child oral healthcare education.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported and funded by Kuwait University, Research Project No. (DR04/13.)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Dental Practice, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, 13110, Safat, Kuwait

    Q. Alkhubaizi

  2. School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St.Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    A. Moule

  3. Department of Developmental and Preventive Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, 13110, Safat, Kuwait

    M. Al-Sane

  4. Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Baltimore VA Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 North Greene Street, GRECC (BT/18/GR), Baltimore, MD, 21201-1524, USA

    J. D. Sorkin

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  1. Q. Alkhubaizi
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  2. A. Moule
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  3. M. Al-Sane
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  4. J. D. Sorkin
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Correspondence to Q. Alkhubaizi.

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Alkhubaizi, Q., Moule, A., Al-Sane, M. et al. Oral health practices and knowledge among parents and hired caregivers. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 19, 403–410 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-018-0372-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-018-0372-6

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