INFLUENCE OF PARENT’S EDUCATION ON SELF-PERCEIVED ORAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Parental socioeconomic characteristics are related to their children’s subjective perception on oral health.

Aim: To correlate the educational level of each parent, an individual-level indicator of socio-economic status (SES): with self-perceived oral health in a 12-year-olds in the region of Skopje.

Method: Cross-sectional design. The study sample was randomly drawn with a two-stage cluster sample from 12 year olds from the capital town of Macedonia-Skopje. The study was conducted in November- December 2015. Data were collected by the adapted and translated WHO Oral Health Questionnaire for children. Participation was voluntary and consent to participation was given by completing and returning the questionnaire. Of 307 questionnaires, 218 were returned. Since the questionnaire was used as a part of the National survey of oral health of 12 year olds in Macedonia, as part of an audit of the national programme, it did not require separate ethics approval. The data analysis was carried out by IBM SPSS Statistics 20.

Results: The study included 218 children (71% response rate) in total, 103(47.2%) male and 115(52.8%) female. Out of all the children who rated their teeth and gums health as excellent/very good, 66(71%), 77(67.5%) respectively, had mothers with a university degree. The children who rated their teeth and gums health as fair/poor, 84.7%, 85.7% respectively, had mothers with an education level below a university degree.

Conclusions: The mother’s educational level had an impact on children’s subjective perception of oral health. Children living with parents with higher educational level generally report better oral hygiene behaviors, access to health care and preventive interventions. The present study shows that parents educational level could be a useful individual SES indicator for oral health in children and health managers might use this factor when planning oral health promotion interventions.