The relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and dental health knowledge and attitudes of parents with young children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if parental socio-demographic characteristics are associated with dental knowledge and attitude.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey of 500 consecutive parents with children aged approximately 8-months, attending clinics in 1999/2000, in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, for health visitor distraction-hearing tests.


METHODS
Scores were obtained for dental knowledge and attitudes. The socio-demographic variables of parental ethnicity, age, education and area of residence were used to determine any associations.


RESULTS
Parental age ranged between 16-46 years. Child age ranged between 7-11 months. Significant differences were detected for parental dental knowledge according to ethnicity (P = 0.003), educational status (P = 0.000), and area of residence (P = 0.016). Significant differences were also found in dental attitudes; ethnicity (P = 0.000), educational status (P = 0.004) and area of residence (P = 0.005). Parental age was not significant for either knowledge or attitude.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of further education, being Asian and living in a deprived area means parents have less chances of high dental knowledge and positive dental attitudes.
Williams
N J
NJ
Burnley Health Care NHS Trust. nicloa.williams@lancashire.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Whittle
J G
JG
Gatrell
A C
AC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom