Background: Mothers play a basic role in the oral health of children. They decide whether
their children need oral treatment or not. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of
educational health program on mothers' knowledge and practices toward their preschool
children’s oral health. Research design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study.
Setting: The study was conducted at dental outpatient clinic of Benha University Hospital. The
sample: A convenient sample was used in this study, the total number of mothers of preschool
children in the above mentioned setting were 60.Tools: A structured interviewing questionnaire
sheet: it consisted of 4 parts used to assess: 1) the socio-demographic characteristics of
mothers, 2) the dental history of the children, 3) knowledge of mothers regarding child's oral
health, 4) practices of mothers regarding their children oral health. Results of this study
showed; 43.3% of the mothers aged from 20 to less than 30 years old. 55 % of them were living
in rural area, and 28.3% had secondary education. As regard total knowledge of mothers
regarding their preschool children oral health; before the program implementation; 47 % of them
had good total knowledge scores, while after the program implementation increased to 77 % of
them. Concerning to total practices of mothers regarding their preschool children oral health;
43.3 % of them were satisfactory before the program implementation and increased to 80 %
after the program implementation. This study concluded that: Educational health program
has showed a highly statistically significant effect on knowledge and practices of the mothers
post program and improving their knowledge and practices regarding their preschool children
oral health. The study recommended that: Well-designed educational health program are
needed in dental outpatient clinics at large sample and further research is needed for the
maintaining children oral health. |
