Table 1 Socio-behavioural factors and proportions of children with visible caries N = 251
Oral health knowledge, attitudes and dental attendance | No visible caries experience (dmft = 0) n (%) | Visible caries experience (dmft > 0) n (%) | p-value (Chi square) |
|---|---|---|---|
How would you rate your child’s dental health | |||
Excellent | 41 (23.3) | 7 (9.7) | |
Very good | 63 (35.5) | 15 (20.8) | |
Good | 59 (33.5) | 20 (27.8) | |
Fair | 12 (6.8) | 19 (26.4) | |
Poor | 1 (0.6) | 11 (15.3) | <0.001 |
Has your child ever visited a dentist or dental nurse | |||
Yes | 50 (28.7) | 37 (51.4) | |
No | 124 (71.3) | 35 (48.6) | <0.01 |
Have you ever had difficulty in finding dental care for your child | |||
Yes | 14 (8.5) | 14 (20.3) | |
No | 151 (71.3) | 55 (79.7) | 0.02 |
How often does your child have fruits | |||
Never | 2 (1.1) | 0 (0) | |
Rarely | 11 (6.2) | 5 (6.8) | |
Once a day | 93 (52.5) | 22 (30.1) | |
Twice a day | 41 (23.2) | 21 (28.8) | |
More than twice a day | 30 (16.9) | 25 (34.2) | |
Don’t know | 0 | 0 | <0.01 |
How often does your child eat sweet snacks | |||
Never | 2 (1.1) | 1 (1.4) | |
Rarely | 48 (27.1) | 10 (14.1) | |
Once a day | 80 (45.2) | 26 (36.6) | |
Twice a day | 29 (16.4) | 11 (15.3) | |
More than twice a day | 18 (10.1) | 23 (32.4) | |
Don’t know | 0 | 1 (1.4) | <0.01 |