title: Maternal attitudes towards tooth decay in children aged 12-18 months in Pelotas, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This was to assess mothers' attitudes towards dental caries in children aged 12-18 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study targeted mothers of children aged 12-18 months. Data about demographic and socioeconomic status were collected by interviews with each mother. In addition, the mother was asked about her attitudes regarding caries in her child's primary teeth. A dental examination of each child was also conducted. Chi-square, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 262 mother-child pairs were included, and 18.7 % of the children had dental caries. If a child presented with dental caries in their primary teeth, 93.5 % of the mothers reported that they would take the child to a dentist. Mothers who had only one child and those who had children with dental caries were more likely to report that they did not expect primary dental caries treatment by the dentist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most mothers reported that they would take their children to a dentist when they presented with dental caries. Despite this positive result, educational measures should continue to be emphasised, especially among mothers of children at a higher risk of caries and among first-time mothers.
authors: Graduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. ethieli2@gmail.com.
authors: E R
authors: ER
authors: da Silveira
authors: Graduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. francinesct@gmail.com.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Dos Santos Costa
authors: Graduate Program in Dentistry, Infant Clinic, Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, R. Gonçalves Chaves, 457, 5th Floor, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96015-560, Brazil. marinasazevedo@gmail.com.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Azevedo
authors: Graduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. romano.ana@uol.com.br.
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Romano
authors: Graduate Program in Dentistry, Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. cencims@gmail.com.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Cenci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitude; Deciduous tooth; Dental caries; Mothers