title: The relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and dental health knowledge and attitudes of parents with young children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Burnley Health Care NHS Trust. nicloa.williams@lancashire.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gatrell
mesh_terms: 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