Page 28 - nhms2016 maternal and child findings

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

Willingness to take the child for dental treatment upon advice

The majority (99.2%, 95% CI: 98.74 - 99.44) of mothers reported that they would take their
child for dental treatment upon advice. Only a small proportion (0.8%, 95% CI: 0.56 – 0.17)
of mothers reported they were unwilling to bring their child for dental treatment. Significantly
more mothers in the age group 45 to 49 years (100%, 95% CI: 4.2 – 7.8) reported that they
would do so compared to mothers in the age group 30 to 34 years (99.7%, 95% CI: 99.29 –
99.86) and mothers aged 15 to 19 years (95.4%, 95% CI: 83.99 – 98.82). Notably, unemployed
mothers (100%, 95% CI: 99.92 – 100.00) reported that they were willing to take their child for
dental treatment compared to other occupational groups except housewives. There was no
significant difference seen among the other sociodemographic variables (Table 4.5.2.7).

Reasons for not bringing a child for dental treatment

Among mothers who reported that they would not take their child for dental treatment upon
advice, the reasons cited were as follows; “ too young to get treatment” (70.8%, 95% CI: 54.07
– 83.28), “dental treatment for milk teeth was not important” (11.2%, 95% CI: 3.44 – 31.07),
“the child was afraid of dental treatment (8.2%, 95% CI: 2.42 – 24.21). A further 6.9% (95%
CI: 3.25 – 14.00) of mothers were opined that the dental clinic was too far (Table 4.5.2.8).

Prevalence of mothers who had ever received health personnel’s’advice on child’s oral health

Less than half of mothers (42.8%, 95% CI: 37.74 – 48.08) reported that they had previously
received advice from health care workers on looking after their children’s oral health.
Significantly more mothers working in the private sector (63.5%, 95% CI: 55.87 – 70.42)
reported that they had never received advice from health care workers on looking after their
children’s oral health compared to mothers working in the public sector (49.4%, 95% CI: 43.53
– 55.27). There was no significant difference seen among the other sociodemographic
variables (Table 4.5.2.9).

Perceived importance of child's oral health and dental visit

Among mothers who thought that it was very important to look after their child’s oral health,
only 23.8% (95% CI: 19.17 – 29.05) reported ever bringing their child for a dental check up
or dental treatment. In addition, among mothers who thought it was important to look after
their child’s teeth, only 25.3% (95% CI: 22.03 – 28.96) had taken their child for a dental visit
(Table 4.5.2.10).

Perceived importance of child's oral health and last dental visit

Among mothers who thought that it was very important to look after their child’s oral health,
about 82.0% (95% CI: 76.21 - 86.71) reported ever taking their child for a dental check-up or
dental treatment less than a year ago and 13.1% (95% CI: 9.34 – 18.14) had taken their child
for a dental visit one to two years ago. Among mothers who thought it was important to look
after children’s oral health, about 75.1% (95% CI: 71.46 – 78.40) had taken their child for a
dental visit less than a year ago and 18.5% (95% CI: 15.95 – 22.27), one to two years ago
(Table 4.5.2.11).

Perceived importance of child's oral health and age of child's first dental visit

Among mothers who thought that it was very important to look after their child’s oral health,
about 42.3% (95% CI: 37.16 – 47.54) thought that their child’s first dental visit ought to be
before two years of age. Meanwhile, among mothers who thought it was important to look
after their child’s oral health, about 36.8% (95% CI: 41.16 – 32.68) thought that their child’s
first dental visit ought to be before two years of age (Table 4.5.2.12).