The Knowledge and Attitude on Oral Health Among Mothers of Under Five Children Attending Paediatric Area in Selected Hospital Vadodara

Abstract

Background of the study: The World Health Organisation states that "Oral health is a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the oral cavity." The study's objectives are to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of mothers of children under the age of five who visit the paediatric department of a particular hospital about oral health. Resources and Approach:  The 245 samples of mothers of children under five years old were collected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique in an evaluative research approach with pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design. It was examined using descriptive and illuminating statistics including the standard deviation, chi-square test, and paired t-test. Results: In the pre-test, 106 (43.27%) of the samples had insufficient knowledge, 125 (51.02%) had moderate knowledge, 14 (5.71%) had adequate knowledge, and 221 (90.57%) had a negative attitude towards oral health care while 23 (9.43%) had a positive attitude. In the post-test, 11 (4.48%) of the samples had insufficient knowledge, 51 (20.81%) had moderate knowledge, 183 (74.69%) had adequate knowledge, 231 (94.28%) had a positive attitude towards oral hygiene, and 14 (5.71%) had a negative attitude. At the 0.05 level, the resultant 't' values for attitude and knowledge were both highly significant at 41.817 and 21.732, respectively. The study's findings indicated that the plan teaching programme was successful with mothers of young children under the age of five.