Čes. stomatol. Prakt. zub. lék. (Czech Dental Journal) 2001; 101(5): 175-183

The Knowledge and the Attitude of Parents, Children and their Teachers to Oral Health in the Czech Republic, (Prague)

I. Lekešová, P. E. Petersen, M. Krutina, L. Mrklas

Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy ČR Světová zdravotnická organizace (WHO), Kodaň, Dánsko Výzkumný ústav stomatologický VFN, Praha

The questionnaire survey was a part of grant 4089 "Analysis of Oral Health in5 and 12 year old children in Prague and Birmingham". The aim of this study was to obtain information about attitudes and dental knowledge among parents, children and their school-teachers to oral health. Dates on oral health behaviour were collected by questioners designedby the WHO which were delivered to mothers of 5-year-old children attending kindergardes. The number of mothers who replied was 224 out 294 (85 %). From randomly selected schoolsin Prague 1 and 2, 12-year-old children completed the questioners in the frame of dentalexamination, the response rate was 100 % and the teachers responded to self-administered questionnaires. Nearly 80 % of teachers held the opinion that oral health of children is fair evengood , but only 61% of teachers were positive towards teaching children how to take care of their teeth. The regular dental visits were recommended by 100 % of teachers and 99 % of mothers. Most mothers of 5-year-old children answered that dental caries may be preventedby toothbrushing (97 %), restricting of sugar and sweets, (53 %) and use of fluoride (57 %). Nearly 80 % of 5-year-old children, according information of their mothers, brushed their teeth twice a day, but only 12 % of the mothers helped their children in daily toothbrushing. Only 30 % of 12-year-old children attended the dentist regularly, 70% brushed teeth twice a day and 82 % used toothpaste with fluoride.

Keywords: questionnaires; dental health; toothbrushing; dental knowledge; healthattitudes

Published: December 1, 2001  Show citation