Infant oral health care: Knowledge, attitude and practice among mothers of infants in Kottayam district: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Infant oral health acts like a foundation over which a dentist can emphasize the importance of various preventive measures to the parents. Mothers being the primary care giver, play an important role in infant oral health care. It is important for the mothers to have adequate awareness and knowledge about proper feeding practices as well as oral hygiene habits. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding Infant oral health care among mothers of infants in Kottayam district. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study conducted among 150 mothers of infants enrolled in the Anganwadi centers of Kottayam district. A pre-validated, self-administered structured questionnaire in local language (Malayalam) was used to collect the data. For statistical analysis, the chi square test was employed. Results: The overall level of knowledge and practice among the mothers were relatively on the lower range while they had a positive attitude towards infant oral healthcare based on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) score with (P>0.05). Conclusion: The frontline health care professional’s and dentists should educate the new and the expectant mothers regarding the appropriate care of infant oral health.