Table 1 Factor barriers extracted (italics), statements from which they were derived and their internal consistency (Cronbach’s α)

Importance of oral health

 Oral health is important

 Taking care of primary teeth is important

 Primary teeth are necessary for the health of permanent teeth

Perceived responsibility

 Action for controlling tooth decay is necessary

 Dentist should be assisted by other health professional in managing decayed teeth

 I should assist the dentist in managing oral health

Intension to give advice

 I would advise mothers about habits that are beneficial for their children

 If sufficient time I would provide advice and inspect the oral cavity

 I can contribute to improvement of children’s’ oral health

Training

 After training, I will examine parents of the children

 If appropriate instruments are available, I will do mouth inspection

 After training, I would include oral inspection in my routine work

Social norms

 I participate if the dentist in the health centre accepts it

 I participate if the director of the health centre approves it

 Dental treatment must be exclusively be performed by dentists

Experience in seeing carious lesions

 It is common to see children with tooth decay

 I see many children with decayed primary teeth

 During routine work, I see many children with toothache

 During routine work, I see many mothers with decayed teeth

Knowledge on caries prevention

 Nursing bottle should be recommended from the 6th month of life

 To sweeten the milk in the nursing bottle is good

 To sleep with the nursing bottle is harmful

 Breast feeding should not be given after the 6th month of life