Evaluation of age, gender and parental factors affecting child behavior in the dental surgery

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to know the effect of gender, age, parental education [literacy] and parental socioeconomic status on child behavior in dental surgery. One hundred and twenty six children who reported to Department of Paedodontics Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar for various dental problems were included in this study. A specially designed proforma was used to collect information from parents anage, gender, parental education [literacy], socioeconomic status. Frankl behavior rating scale was used to record child behavior in dental surgery. The data was then subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 16. Majority of the children [44.4%] belonged to low socio economic group followed by middle [29.4%] and high [26.2%] socio-economic groups. The parents of 55 children [43.7%] had college/university education followed by 39 parents [31%] having up to high school education. Third two parents [25.4%] were uneducated According to Frank/behavior rating scale, majority of the children [34.1%] showed definitely positive behavior followed by positive behavior [31.7%] and negative behavior [25.4%]. Only a few children [807%] exhibited definitely negative behavior. The effect of all the study variables on child behavior was not significant except age [p=0.033]. However, there were trends showing more children from higher socioeconomic group and those belonging to paretits with college/ university education behaving positively. Parental literacy Socio-economic status and Gender of the child did not affect child behavior significantly. The age of the child was significantly related to the behavior of the child. Therefore more negative behavior should be expected from younger children. Each and every child should be assessed and managed individually and no generalizations should be made