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Oral health knowledge, attitude, and performance of the parents of 3–12-year-old autistic children
Maryam Hajiahmadi1, Firoozeh Nilchian2, Ali Tabrizi3, Hadi Moshkel Gosha4, Maryam Ahmadi5
1 Dental Research Center, Departments of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Dental Materials Research Center, Dental Research Institute and Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 General Dentist, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Dental Research Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5 Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Students' Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Maryam Ahmadi
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Students' Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1735-3327.340109
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Background: This study aimed to assess the oral health knowledge, attitude, and performance of the parents of autistic 3–12-year-old.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated 50 parents of autistic 3–12-year-old in Isfahan city. The oral health knowledge, attitude, and performance of the parents were evaluated using a self-administered questionnaire with closed questions, after confirming its validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, regression analysis, and Cronbach's alpha (α =0.05).
Results: Of children, 32 (64%) were males and 18 (36%) were females. A total of 28 (56%) fathers and 22 (44%) mothers participated in this study. The mean age of the children and parents was 8.12 ± 2.4 years and 39.6 ± 6.8 years, respectively. The mean age at the time of diagnosis of autism was 4.08 ± 1.33 years. Of all children, 24 (46.2%) had a previous dental history. The mean scores of the knowledge and attitude of the parents were 5.2 ± 1.7 out of 11, and 16.1 ± 3.1 out of 30, respectively. Of demographic variables, order of child birth had a significant correlation with attitude of the parents, and those with one single child had significantly higher attitude score (P = 0.03).
Conclusion: The oral health knowledge, attitude, and performance of the parents of autistic children in Isfahan city were lower than expected, which calls for knowledge enhancement strategies in this respect.
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