Abstract
Purpose
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a highly prevalent disease in Kuwait. It poses health, economic, and social implications affecting patients, their families and communities. ECC awareness campaigns targeting expectant mothers hold a promising potential as primary prevention tools. Understanding the baseline of ECC knowledge (ECC-K) is an important foundational step in planning such interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the level of ECC-K in a sample of expectant mothers, and to identify the sociodemographic and behavioural determinants of that knowledge.
Methods
A multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to 430 expectant women from one maternity hospital in Kuwait. The questionnaire gathered information on the demographics, ECC-K, and the oral health behaviours of the participants. Bivariate analysis assessed the relationship between ECC-K scores and the different socio-demographic variables and oral health practices of the participants. A multiple linear regression model was developed to identify the predictors of ECC-K scores
Results
The response rate was 94% (n = 405). The mean ECC-K score was 6.4 [standard deviation (SD) = 2.5] out of a maximum score of 14. Age, education, number of children, frequency of dental visits, and flossing frequency were significantly associated with ECC-K levels (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
ECC-K among this cohort of expectant mothers was inadequate. Educational interventions are needed to foster better ECC preventive practices.
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by a Grant from Kuwait University (ZD01/08). The authors of the study wish to thank Royal Hayat Hospital in Kuwait City, Kuwait, for permitting conducting the study at their out patient maternity clinics. Additionally, the authors would like to thank Dr. Maha Abdulsalam for her valuable contribution to the data collection in this study.
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This study was funded by a grant from Kuwait University (ZD01/08).
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This study was approved by the Ethical Clearance Committee, Health Science Center Kuwait University.
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Al-Sane, M., Koerber, A., Montero, M. et al. Sociodemographic and behavioural determinants of early childhood caries knowledge among expectant mothers in Kuwait. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 22, 449–458 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00579-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00579-x