Parental Educational Level and Dental Caries in Children (Study at Gereja Bethel Indonesia Rock Sunday School Jakarta)
Abdul Gani Soulisa, Lia Hapsari Andayani, Stacia Andani

Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Trisakti

Abstract

Background : Dental caries remains to be one of the major oral diseases in childhood. Various social determinants including parental education, family income, and attitudes toward the importance of oral hygiene, were found to be associated with dental caries in children. Children from low socioeconomic level families have been found to be more vulnerable to higher level of caries. Objective : This study aimed to determine the association between parental educational level and dental caries in children. Method : This cross-sectional study was carried out in a population of children aged 6-12 years at Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) Rock Sunday School, Jakarta. A total of 106 children along with their parents were recruited by purposive sampling. Self administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic data of both children and parents. Dental examination was carried out using the decayed, exfoliated, filled, teeth (deft) index. Spearman Correlation was performed to investigate the correlation between parental educational level and dental caries in children. Result : Caries presence was lower in children with higher educational level of father (56.6%) as well as higher educational level of mother (55.7%). This study showed significant correlation between dental caries in children with father educational level (p=0.000) as well as mother educational level (p=0.000). Conclusion : Parental educational level was a significant determinant of dental caries in children. Higher parental education level was correlated with lower prevalence of dental caries in children.

Keywords: Children, Dental Caries, Parental Educational Level

Topic: Dental Public Health