Sociodemographic and behavioural determinants of early childhood caries knowledge among expectant mothers in Kuwait.

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.

Oral health practices and knowledge among parents and hired caregivers.

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 (ß = - 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 (ß = 2.249, p = 0.06), but for the lower knowledge scores (ß = - 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.