title: Caries increment in young children in Skaraborg, Sweden: associations with parental sociodemography, health habits, and attitudes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore parental sociodemography, oral health habits, and attitudes in relation to dental caries increment in their children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal questionnaire and clinical study. The children were followed annually from age 3 years (n = 271) to 6 years (n = 243). Carious lesions of different depth were registered (initial and manifest) by four calibrated dentists. The parents filled out a questionnaire. Statistics included factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha together with bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the parents exhibited positive health behaviour and attitudes. 'Late start of toothbrushing of child' was, however, common (≥1 year; 29%) and 'external locus of control' showed a high mean value (10,1; possible range 3-15). In a multivariate model, 'parent born abroad' (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.85-5.76) and 'parental indulgence' (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.37-7.51) were the most important for the development of carious lesions in the children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified 'parent born abroad' and 'parental indulgence' as significant risk factors for caries in the age period 3 to 6 years. Identifying parents with the greatest need should be emphasized, in order to target promotion and prevention activities.
authors.affiliation: Public Dental Service, Region Västra Götaland, Skövde, Sweden.|R&D Centre, Skaraborg Primary Care, Skövde, Sweden.|Department of Behavioural and Community Dentistry, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna-Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Östberg
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Marit S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Skeie
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Behavioural Science, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Skaare
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Behavioural Science, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ivar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espelid
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology