Parents' views on factors influencing the dental health of Trinidadian pre-school children.
OBJECTIVE
To describe parents' views on the dental health of pre-school children in Trinidad.


METHODS
Self-administered 22 item questionnaire by 138 parents and guardians of pre-school children.


METHODS
University paediatric dentistry clinic.


METHODS
Consecutive parents or guardians of pre-school children attending a university paediatric dentistry clinic.


METHODS
Views on dental health and dental care of pre-school children, perceptions of own oral health and demographic information.


RESULTS
Most participants (80%) were educated up to secondary school level and 59% were from homes where the head of the household was either in manual work or unemployed. One-half of the participants (50.7%) felt that teeth of young children should be brushed three times a day, with (75.4%) choosing a small brush. Most participants (65%) considered the position of supervised brushing of childrens' teeth from 'in front' to be the most effective method while 4.5% choose 'from behind'. Twenty seven percent did not know if their child's toothpaste contained fluoride and 82.6% did not know how much fluoride it should contain. Thirty three percent of the respondents had given their child a sweetened baby bottle or comforter at night. Fifty four percent felt a child's first dental visit should be when all baby teeth were present. Forty two percent would want a decayed baby tooth filled, 31.9% would want it extracted and 22.4% were unsure.


CONCLUSIONS
The generally inaccurate factual knowledge and low awareness of preventive care among parents suggest the need for accurate information about factors influencing the dental health of pre-school children. These findings have significant implications for the delivery of effective health promotion strategies and the accuracy of health education messages in Trinidad and Tobago.
Naidu
R S
RS
School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of The West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. rahul@trinidad.net
Davis
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000523:psychology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000208:ethnology
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides