Reflection of Parental Oral Health Literacy on Children’s Oral Health Status Using Regression Analysis

Background and Objective: The need to measure oral health literacy has led to the development of measurement instruments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between parental oral health literacy and children’s oral health status in Chengalpattu district and assess the degree to which parental factors explain this association.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study took place among 350 children aged from 3 to 9 years and their parents to estimate the children’s dental health status by DMFT index, at the child’s home. Examiners interviewing the parents administered the Health Literacy in Dentistry scale (HeLD) - a Pre- validated questionnaire to determine their Oral health literacy and questioned them further about their social characteristics and their children’s dental health behaviour. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson’s Correlation coefficient and Linear regression analysis.Results: The age of the parents and children were 29.25 ± 4.63 and 7.23 ± 2.83 respectively. Results from Pearson’s correlation coefficient shows that the factors that are significantly correlated with oral health status of the children were parent’s working status, number of children, type of family and oral health literacy of the parents. Forward Linear regression analysis also demonstrates the same factors that were associated.Conclusion: The Oral health literacy level of parents was significantly associated with their children’s oral health status. Improving parent’s Oral health literacy might help strengthen their capacities to promote oral health, thus helping to improve their children’s dental health