Parental Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Dental Health Behavior: A Comparative Study of Oral Hygiene and Nutritional Practices in Children with Heart Conditions vs. Healthy Children

Abstract

Background: parents of children with heart disease often fail to recognize the critical importance of maintaining optimal oral health. The attitudes of these parents significantly influence their children's oral care. Their lack of emphasis on proper oral hygiene and a nutritious diet may pose risks for odontogenic bacteremia and infective endocarditis. This study aimed to assess parents’ knowledge of these diseases and their dental knowledge through a questionnaire.

Methods: This descriptive-analytical epidemiological study was carried out with parents of children aged 3 to 16 years, including both normal (n = 69) and heart disease (n = 69) groups, in Ahvaz, Iran, during the August 2022 and June 2023. A researcher-developed questionnaire was employed for data collection. To explore the relationship between knowledge and attitudes, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis were applied. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24, with a significance threshold set at P < 0.05.

Results: The results of the present study showed that the average score of parents’ knowledges in the control group was 78.27 and in the group of parents of patients with heart disease it was 62.31 and it is at a weak level. The level of attitude among parents of children in both groups is higher than average and the average score of parents' performance in the control group was 40 and in the group of parents of patients with heart disease it was 37.45, which is at the average level.

Conclusion: The results indicated that parents had limited knowledge about their children's oral health. However, their attitudes towards health and oral hygiene were positive. These findings highlight the necessity of enhancing parental knowledge about effective measures to improve dental health from the early stage of life.