Evaluation of the impact of mothers' attitudes towards healthy eating on their children's dietary habits and oral health

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the effects of mothers' attitudes towards healthy eating on children's dietary behaviour and oral health. Methods: A total of 328 children and mothers, including 180 girls and 148 boys aged between 3-10 years, were included in the study. After recording socio-demographic data of mothers and their children, Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN) was administered to mothers, and Children's Heart Health Promotion Attitude Scale (CCHAS) was administered to children face-to-face. Intraoral examinations of children were performed, and Decay, Missing, Filling, Teeth (DMFT, dmft), Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), and Bleeding on Probing Index (BPI) were calculated. The effects of all parameters on verbal indexes were evaluated using hierarchical linear regression analysis for statistical analysis. Results: The mean DMFT score of children was found to be 0-2, and the mean dmft score was 7-6. The mean PI, GI, and BPI scores were 1-1.20, 0.60-0.70, and 10 respectively. The mean Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition score of mothers in the study was 71-70, and the average score for Nutrition Knowledge was 21-20 respectively. There was a positive significant relationship between mothers' ASHN and CCHAS. Conclusion: Based on this study's results, we can conclude that mothers' positive attitudes towards nutrition contribute to the development of their children's positive dietary attitudes. ASHN of the mother is a risk determinant for the child's DMFT score. Therefore, it can be said that proving healthy eating behaviour by mothers is important for their children's oral health.