Background: Dental plaque is a root cause of dental caries. Effective plaque control in young children can be achieved with twice-daily assisted tooth brushing. Self-efficacy relates to one's confidence in performing a task. Self-efficacy is shown to facilitate the behavior change in treatments for lifestyle diseases. The influence of maternal self-efficacy in children's oral health behaviors is less studied.
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate an association between maternal tooth brushing-related self-efficacy (MTBSE) and child's brushing adherence.
Settings and design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in schools and included 781 mother-child dyads with children between the age group of 2 and 6 years.
Methods: Selected mothers were asked to complete the questionnaires on sociodemographic data, mother's oral health knowledge (MOHK), tooth-brushing practices, and MTBSE. Brushing adherence was evaluated as complete adherence if the child followed twice daily assisted brushing using the toothbrush and toothpaste.
Statistical analysis: Nonparametric tests were used to compare the variables. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the predictors of brushing adherence.
Results: Complete brushing adherence (assisted brushing with toothbrush and toothpaste at least twice per day) was seen only in 26.9% children. More children with complete brushing adherence were single children (P < 0.001). Children with complete brushing adherence had mothers with significantly higher MTBSE (P < 0.001). The presence/absence of siblings, MOHK, and MTBSE were found to be strong and significant predictors of brushing adherence in children.
Conclusions: MTBSE plays a significant role in complete adherence to toothbrushing in children aged 2-6 years.
Keywords: Mothers; oral health; self efficacy; siblings; toothbrushing.