Individual and maternal determinants of self-reported dental health among Turkish school children aged 10-12 years.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of maternal and individual characteristics on self-reported dental health of Turkish school children aged 10-12 years with different socio-economic backgrounds.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of children aged 10 to 12 (n = 611) using paired matches of self-administered questionnaires for children and their mothers. Clinical examinations based on World Health Organization criteria were conduced. The participation rate was 97% (n = 591) for the children, 87% (n = 533) for the mothers, and 95% (n = 584) for the clinical examinations. Multiple linear regression, descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficient and chi-square test were applied.


RESULTS
Private school children's mothers were more likely to have had higher education (95% at least high school) than public school children's mothers (11%); they reported better dental health (above average) than did mothers of public school children (p = 0.001). Among all mothers, those with above average self-reported dental health reported more regular dental visits than did those with below average scores (p = 0.001). Frequency of regular dental visits and toothbrushing among children attending public schools (5%, 65%) were lower than those attending private school (43%, 79%), (p = 0.001). The mean DMFS was negatively correlated with self-reported dental health (r(s) = -0.187, p = 0.001). Toothbrushing frequency and school performance were the common factors positively associated with self-reported dental health, among all children.


CONCLUSIONS
The results emphasize the important role of mothers and their socio-economic background in enhancement of children's dental health. Their active role in conjunction with the potential of self-assessment provides a good basis for establishing and improving self-care among children, in developing countries in particular.
Cinar
A B
AB
Department of Oral Public Health, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Mannerheimintie 172, 00014, Finland. basak.cinar@helsinki.fi
Kosku
N
N
Sandalli
N
N
Murtomaa
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey