Page 27 - nhms2016 maternal and child findings

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National Health And Morbidity Survey 2016 : Maternal And Child Health (MCH) Volume II : Findings

Frequency of cleaning/brushing child’s teeth or supervision of a child’s tooth brushing

About 74.0% (95% CI: 71.51 – 76.37) of mothers reported they cleaned/brushed their child’s
teeth or supervised their child’s tooth brushing daily, while 19.0% (95% CI: 17.12 – 21.02)
reported they had only done so once in a while. A low percentage of mothers (7.0%, 95% CI:
5.74 – 8.49) reported they had never ever cleaned/brushed their child’s teeth or supervised
their child’s tooth brushing. The prevalence of mothers who reported not having
cleaned/brushed their child’s teeth or supervised their child’s tooth brushing every day was
significantly higher among those in the 20 to 29 age group range (9.3% - 9.5%) as compared
to those aged 35 to 39 years (4.8%, 95% CI: 3.52 – 6.53). There was no significant difference
seen among the other sociodemographic variables (Table 4.5.2.2).

Prevalence of mothers who had never brought their child for a dental visit

About 73% (95% CI: 69.61 – 76.71) of mothers reported they had never brought their child for
a dental visit (dental check up/ dental treatment) before. The prevalence was significantly
higher among mothers who were students compared to those who worked in the public/private
sector, were self-employed or housewives (ranging from 62% - 75%). There was no significant
difference seen among other sociodemographic variables (Table 4.5.2.3).

Prevalence of mothers who had ever brought their child for a dental visit

Only about 26.7% (95% CI: 23.29 – 30.39) reported that they had brought their child for a
dental visit (dental check up/ dental treatment) before. There was no significant difference
seen among the other sociodemographic variables (Table 4.5.2.3).

Timing of child’s last dental visit

Among mothers who had ever brought their child for a dental visit, about 77.0% (95% CI:
73.91 – 79.88) had last taken their child for a dental visit (dental check up/ dental treatment)
less than a year ago, while 17.5% (95% CI: 3.4 – 5.6) reported having done so in the last one
to two years and a small percentage, more than 2 years ago (4.8%, 95% CI: 3.76 – 6.00).
About 0.7% (95% CI: 0.34 – 1.48) of mothers reported they could not remember when they
had last taken their child for a dental visit. There was no significant difference seen among the
other sociodemographic variables (Table 4.5.2.4).

Opinion on timing of child’s first dental visit

About 38.3% (95% CI: 34.53 – 42.17) of mothers opined that they needed to take their child
for their first dental visit before their child turns two years of age, 27.5% (95% CI: 24.67 –
30.42) when their child is two to three years old and 25.3% (95% CI: 22.89 – 27.89) when their
child is four to five years old. A further 9.0% (95% CI: 6.44 – 12.34) of mothers reported not
knowing when they should take their child for their first dental visit. Significantly more mothers
of Chinese ethnicity (14.5%, 95% CI: 9.72 – 21.01) reported not knowing the right timing of a
child’s first dental visit compared to the Indians (3.8%, 95% CI: 2.21 – 6.36). There was no
significant difference seen among the other sociodemographic variables (Table 4.5.2.5).

Perception of age of a child’s first dental visit

In this survey, a perception of age of a child’s first dental visit was defined as ‘good’ if the
mother’s response was ‘before two years of age’ and ‘poor’ perception if the mother’s
response was other than ‘before two years of age’. Overall, about 58.0% (95% CI: 53.99 –
61.82) of mothers had a poor perception of age of their child’s first dental visit. There was no
significant difference seen among the other sociodemographic variables among mothers with
poor perception of age of a child’s first dental visit (Table 4.5.2.6).