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Effect of Educational Intervention in Mothers for Prevention of Caries in Their Children

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Dental Caries
Interventions
Behavioral: oral health education
Behavioral: reminder phone call
Registration Number
NCT01763138
Lead Sponsor
University of the Punjab
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of an educational intervention on mothers knowledge, attitudes and practices for preventing childhood caries.

Detailed Description

Health education is being used as a key preventive tool in the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, mental illness, neurological disturbances as well as dental diseases.

Amongst the dental diseases, dental caries is a high prevalence chronic childhood disease having long term growth and developmental implications . A number of educational programs have been utilized to decrease its prevalence especially in disadvantaged communities.

Dental caries is a complex interplay of a number of risk factors such as demographic (socioeconomic status, race, etc.) behavioral, dietary and cultural factors. Among the dietary intake, the most significant risk factor has been a high frequency intake of sugary foods and drinks.Patterns of sugar intake are established early in life and sugar intake increases in the first two years of life.

Early feeding practices and lack of oral hygiene maintenance have been identified as risk factors for caries in subsequent years. Maternal education can prove to be protective against dental caries by way of child's dietary practices.

Research has also indicated a reduction in prevalence of caries in children whose parents were previously participants of an oral health educational program.

Educating mothers about oral hygiene and feeding practices before the child transitions from exclusive milk diet to a variety of foods in an important time to exert a positive influence on dietary intake of child and overall oral health.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
126
Inclusion Criteria
  • Mothers of 9-15 months old attending the vaccination clinic who consented to be a part of the study
Exclusion Criteria
  • Mothers with severely ill children or children suffering from a co-morbid disease.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
pamphlet and reminderoral health educationpictorial oral health pamphlet comprising of instructions on child's oral hygiene and feeding practices and a oral health education reminder phone call after a period of one month.
pamphlet and reminderreminder phone callpictorial oral health pamphlet comprising of instructions on child's oral hygiene and feeding practices and a oral health education reminder phone call after a period of one month.
pamphlet onlyoral health educationoral health education pictorial pamphlet would be provided to mothers however there will be no reminder phone calls.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
improvement in child's oral hygiene3 months

Increase in the frequency of tooth brushing, use of a proper oral hygiene aid would indicate an improvement in the child's oral hygiene as reported by the mother after a three month follow up period.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
reduction in sugar intake3 months

A reduction in child's sugar intake would be assessed through the followup structured questionnaire as reduced frequency of sugary snacking and a reduction in night time feeding practices.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health

🇵🇰

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

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