ABSTRACT

Background: The importance of oral hygiene study lies first in the children learning the principles of mouth hygiene from their families, through the first three years of their lives. Also, families have the most important role in ensuring mouth health by instilling the habit of brushing teeth. Methods; The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study design which employed a quantitative research method to assess the knowledge and practice of mothers towards oral hygiene in children age 5 to 10 years. Results: Out of 100 mothers, 57(57%) of them had adequate knowledge on oral health and 43(43%) of them had inadequate or little knowledge on oral health and based on their practices, 61(61%) of these mothers had adequate practices on oral hygiene meanwhile 39 (39%) had inadequate or poor practices on oral health. Conclusion: : Most of the respondents had adequate knowledge and practices on oral hygiene but a hand few of these mothers had inadequate knowledge and practices on the concept of oral hygiene so programs should be designed to address this deficient knowledge and practices on oral hygiene.

Keywords: Mother’s knowledge, practice, oral hygiene, children, community.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

The importance of oral hygiene study lies first in the children learning the principles of mouth hygiene from their families, through the first three years of their lives. Also, families have the most important role in ensuring mouth health by instilling the habit of brushing teeth. In developed countries, although the situation of oral health has improved significantly among preschool kids in developed countries, tooth caries still exists and has a significant impact on children around the world (Alsharif et al., 2020). In early childhood caries (ECC) was specific form of rampant tooth caries that affects the initially teeth of infants and preschool children. Untreated caries kids have consequences, including an increased danger of developing new carious lesions, including primary and permanent teeth, as well as strong indicator of positive associations between untreated ECC and failure in its ability developing, social and intellectual delays. Poor quality of life, and its advantage related to oral health (Ashkanani, 2013). Oral health plays an important role in the overall health of the body and the quality of life of individuals (Hashemian et al., 2012; Pakpour et al., 2012 and Fallahi et al., 2013). Oral health is a fundamental component of health and well-being.

The oral health is a state that contributes positively to one’s physical, mental and social well-being by allowing the individual to speak, eat and socialize unhindered by pain, discomfort or embarrassment (Canadian Dental Association, 2015). This includes being free from oral and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection, gum disease, tooth decay, tooth loss and other oral-associated diseases (World Health Organization, 2012). Oral hygiene is most important for good health in general. Poor oral hygiene can be a source of many diseases. By maintaining good oral hygiene, the occurrence of many diseases can be prevented. Unfortunately, oral hygiene practice is very low in our society. Dental caries and periodontal problems are due to poor oral hygiene practices (Morenike et al., 2007). Oral hygiene, including twice daily tooth brushing, is critical in preventing gum disease and maintaining good oral health (Hassijaand Sridhar, 2014). Dental caries is a multifactorial, irreversible microbial disease of the calcified tissues of the teeth, characterized by demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic substance of the tooth, which often leads to cavitation’s (Latoo et al., 2009). A large number of school aged students in developing countries suffer from tooth decay and have limited access to oral health care services.

Dental caries affects 60-90% of school-age children and most of the adults. Periodontal disease is prevalent in 50-90% of school age children, and is severe in 10-15% of them, while gingival diseases occur in the majority of children and adolescents (Al-Mutawa et al., 2011). Oral disease burden is significantly higher among poor and disadvantaged populations with an increase in developing countries. Globally, poor oral hygiene occurring due to increasing plaque and calculus deposits with increasing age has been reported among children and adolescents (Saied-Moallemi et al., 2009 and Mbawalla et al., 2010). A recent publication by Folayan et al. (2012) also showed that the incidence for caries was 9.9% in a population of primary school children, with a higher incidence in primary teeth than in the permanent dentition. Understanding caries pattern, its epidemiology and how the epidemiologic profile changes over time is important because caries is the primary pathological cause of tooth loss in children in many African countries.

Also, an understanding of the caries profile, that is, where new caries emerges, can be useful in proper planning for the utilization of scarce resources. It also helps to maximize the potential outcome of resources available for preventive programs, including oral health prevention programs (Ashiwaju et al., 2011). Pediatric nurses are on the front lines of children’s health care delivery. They can play an important role in providing oral health screening, early risk assessment and preventive services to children who are at the highest risk for developing early childhood caries. In addition to advising families of proper oral health, fluoride supplementation, prevention of damaging oral health habits and tooth decay and the need for referrals to pediatric dentists for anticipatory guidance (Donna and Donna, 2009). Poor oral hygiene may have an effect on the health of children as well as adults. The poor population in developed countries and more developing countries have this disease in a high and noticeable manner, and the geographical space today is understood as a functional area, the future of social actions, and a catalyst for these actions. An example of analysis of variance and the spatial prevalence of oral problems is essential for allocating assets to areas of better social deprivation, which necessitate further noteworthy steps to address these problems (Salama et al., 2020).

Parents are the key to achieving the best oral health outcomes as well as ensuring the welfare of young kids. Several ECC danger factors were associated with it, which can be broadly divided into biological and social risk factors. Social risk factors include: low education for parent, deteriorating society economic status, and decrees of health awareness about tooth disease. The family and child have to work together for maintain of good oral hygiene, and in general it has been observed that bad parental attitudes are reflected in the deterioration of oral health in children (Gurunathan et al., 2018).

The low level of knowledge and parental belief have a direct impact on the child’s mouth health; because parents are the decision maker. The child’s oral health was affected by the mother’s responsible for the tooth health. And that the positive behavior for mother will improve the oral hygiene of the child. This is because the position of the mother produces a modification of the child’s behavior and thus has a significant impact on healthy oral hygiene practices (Pullishery et al., 2013). Parents have the main role in promoting positive attitudes and strategies towards mouth health habits. Mothers are the immediate and reliable caregivers of children in most countries, and they have a fundamental and pivotal role in providing impact guidance and better behaviors towards oral health (Chala et al., 2018).

 In addition, oral hygiene depends upon with mothers education and demographic inhabitation as research studies consider that mothers with higher education have a better knowledge about oral hygiene and how to modify their children’s bad habit of oral health, like poor brushing habit, diet with high sugar intake, tooth decay, drink milk or sweet liquids at bed time finally their social class and stressful life event (Begxati et. al., 2014). Oral diseases are among the most common non communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. While largely preventable, there were estimated to be more than 3.5 billion cases of oral diseases and other oral conditions globally in 2019. Oral health varies over the life course from early life to old age, is integral to general health and supports individuals in participating in society and achieving their potential (sueyanti and setiawan, 2021).

1.2 Problem Statement

Oral health status is ascribed to changing living conditions for life style, effective use of oral health services, implementation of preventive oral health care programs, developing regular self-care practices and use of Florida toothpaste. Many developing countries are facing problems of poor oral health particularly for countries where community oral health care system is not established (WHO, 2000). Cameroon is one of the developing countries as well, that has not yet established community oral health care system, hence not ongoing preventive oral health care programs. Muea community being a rural community within an urban area, the primary school children living in the community are cut up with changing living conditions, Inadequate oral care can be detrimental to social and emotional wellbeing and adverse interactions with others. It also increases the risk of infections (dental carries the most common chronic disease of childhood with several side effects) which is significantly under estimated. The is a need for this study to be done to assess mothers knowledge and practice with poor oral health status and implications among primary school children age 5 to 10 years in the Muea community, which  may reflect  the oral health  status  picture  of children  in that community. The results may help further researches to be conducted in other areas (rural areas) for comparison and resolving the problems found.

1.3 Rationale

Even though there is no written evidence, but it has been said that oral hygiene is an essential aspect of overall health, and developing good oral hygiene from a young age is crucial in preventing dental problems later in life. It is the responsibility for mothers to teach their children good oral hygiene practices, and as such, their knowledge and practices towards oral hygiene among children aged 5 to 10 years is critical.

1.4 Research questions

1. What is the level of knowledge on oral hygiene among mothers of children aged 5 to 10 years in the Muea community?
2. What is the practice towards oral hygiene amongst mothers of children aged 5 to 10 years in the Muea Community?

1.5 Research Objectives

1.5.1 General objectives

The study aimed at examining mothers’ knowledge and practice towards oral hygiene among children aged 5 to 10 years in the Muea community

1.5.2 Specific objectives

1 To assess the level of knowledge on oral hygiene amongst mothers of children aged 5 to 10 years in the Tiko community.

2 To find out the practice towards oral hygiene amongst mothers of children aged 5 to 10 years in the Muea community.