Children’s toothbrushing: a population survey on behaviours, attitudes, and knowledge in parents of Callao, Peru

Abstract

AIM: To determine the factors associated with behaviours, attitudes and knowledge of parents about children's toothbrushing (CTB). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analytical study of a calculated sample of 3,534 parents/guardians (92.6% female; 7.4% male; average age = 34 years [29–37]) of schoolchildren aged 3 to 8 years in 19 public schools in the province of Callao (Peru). A 31-item face-to-face/virtual questionnaire was divided into: 5 behavioural (18 (IQR)=3]; good 76%), 5 attitudes (13 [IQR=4]; negative 74.2%) and 10 knowledge (12 [IQR=4]; low 92.8%) (KMO≥0.537, Bartlett<0,001) and reliability (ω≥0.537) and 11 demographic domains. Bivariate and multivariate linear Poisson models were used with a P<0.05. CONCLUSION: Children of parents with a higher education showed good behaviours related to CTB. Negative parental attitudes and low knowledge about CTB were associated with a lower parental education and toothbrushing frequency.