title: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers in relation to oral health of preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers in Kuwait in relation to the oral health of preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires with multiple-choice questions were distributed to 334 caregivers of children under the age of 6 years attending vaccination centers in Kuwait. For each question, one of the multiple-choice answers was consistent with the consensus in the pediatric dental literature in relation to early childhood caries prevention, and was considered to be correct. The χ2 test, independent t test, ANOVA, and stepwise linear regression were used to assess the associations between the variables in question and p ≤ 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 334 participants, 234 (70%) were between 20 and 40 years of age with a high school diploma or higher degree and had between 2 and 5 children. The mean knowledge score was 4.68 ± 1.87, the mean attitude score was 4.34 ± 0.88 and the mean practice score was 2.45 ± 0.99. Major weaknesses were reported in infant oral health-related concepts. Mothers had better knowledge than other caregivers (p < 0.001). Higher education was significantly associated with better knowledge (p = 0.003) and better practices (p = 0.017). In addition, knowledge, attitude and level of education were positively and significantly associated with practices (p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that caregivers had weak knowledge and practice in relation to the oral health of preschool children. Mothers and caregivers with higher education had better knowledge and practices. Education and attitude appeared to be favorable indicators of the caregivers' practices with regard to the oral health of their preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ashkanani
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Sane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires