Journal of Oral Health and Community Dentistry

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Volume  17 (2023)
Volume  16 (2022)
Volume  15 (2021)
Volume  14 (2020)
Volume  13 (2019)
Volume  12 (2018)
Volume  11 (2017)
Volume  10 (2016)
Volume  9 (2015)
Volume  8 (2014)
Volume  7 (2013)
Volume  6 (2012)
Volume  5 (2011)
Volume  4 (2010)
Volume  3 (2009)
Volume  2 (2008)
Volume  1 (2007)
Related articles

VOLUME 16 , ISSUE 2 ( May-August, 2022 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Libyan Pediatricians toward Early Childhood Caries

Eman Mansur, Salihah A Abu Baker, Ahmed A Boukharees

Keywords : Dental caries, Oral health, Professional attitudes, Professional behavior, Professional education

Citation Information : Mansur E, Baker SA, Boukharees AA. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Libyan Pediatricians toward Early Childhood Caries. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2022; 16 (2):98-105.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10062-0065A

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 13-09-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess pediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward early childhood caries (ECC) in the governorate of Ajdabiya, Libya. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 50 pediatricians, who work at primary healthcare centers in the governorate of Ajdabiya (in 2021). Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire that was developed using the KAP study construction guides. Pretests of the questionnaire were performed with five pediatricians, who did not participate in the study. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows, version 25.0 (SPSS Inc). The alpha value was 0.05. Results: The overall scores of knowledge ranged from 2 to 12, with a mean of 6.1 (SD, 1.6). For attitudes, the overall scores ranged from 7 to 14, with a mean of 12.1 (SD, 1.5). And the overall scores of practices ranged from 1 to 24, with a mean of 10.0 (SD, 4.7). There were positive correlations between the KAP overall scores. The findings showed weak associations, except between knowledge and practices, it was medium. Conclusion: Libyan pediatricians demonstrated positive attitudes toward oral health. Nevertheless, their knowledge and practices appeared to be deficient regarding the early dental visits, the cariogenic effect of ad libitum breastfeeding, transmission of cariogenic bacteria from mothers/caregiver to the child, and the role and uses of F in preventive dentistry.

PDF Share
  1. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): Classifications, consequences, and preventive strategies. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Illinois: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2020:79–81.
  2. Reed SG, Cunningham JE, Latham TN, et al. Maternal oral Mutans Streptococci (MS) status, not breastfeeding, predicts predentate infant oral MS status. Breastfeed Med 2014;9(9):446–449. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2014.0036.
  3. Brice DM, Blum JR, Steinberg BJ. The etiology, treatment, and prevention of nursing caries. Compend Contin Educ Dent 1996;17(1):92–98. PMID: 8598034.
  4. Mansur EKM, Thomson WM. Evaluation of the Arabic short-form version of the Family Impact Scale (FIS-8). Int J Paediatr Dent 2021;32(1):101–108. DOI: 10.1111/ipd.12798.
  5. Mansur EKM, Thomson WM, Buzaribah KSH, et al. Concordance between Libyan child and parent self-reports of oral-health-related quality of life. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2021;19(2):144–151. DOI: 10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_186_20.
  6. Golubović L, Selimović-Dragaš M, Kobašlija S, et al. The role of the pediatricians in dental caries prevention in Montenegro-the knowledge, attitude and practice. Balk J Dent Med 2020:24;29–37. DOI: 10.2478/bjdm-2020-0005.
  7. Ramroop V, Kowlessar A, Ramcharitar-Maharaj V, et al. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards preventive oral care in early childhood among paediatricians in Trinidad and Tobago: Findings of a national survey. Int Dent J 2019;69(1):67–74. DOI: 10.1111/idj.12408.
  8. Di Giuseppe G, Nobile CGA, Marinelli A, et al. Knowledge, attitude and practices of pediatricians regarding the prevention of oral diseases in Italy. BMC Public Health 2006;6(1):176. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-6-176.
  9. Mansur EK. Primary prevention of dental caries: An overview. Int J Clin Prev Dent 2020;16(4):143–148. DOI: 10.15236/ijcpd.2020.16.4.143.
  10. Ismail AI. Prevention of early childhood caries. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1998;26(S1):49–61. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1998.tb02094.x.
  11. Lewis CW, Grossman DC, Domoto PK, et al. The role of pediatrician in the oral health of children: A national survey. Pediatrics 2000; 106(6):E84. DOI: 10.1542/peds.106.6.e84.
  12. Dickson-Swift V, Kenny A, Gussy M, et al. The knowledge and practice of pediatricians in children's oral health: A scoping review. BMC Oral Health 2020;20(1):211. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-020-01198-0.
  13. Hale KJ, American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Pediatric Dentistry. Oral health risk assessment and establishment of the dental home. Pediatrics 2003;111(5 Pt 1):1113–1116. DOI: 10.1542/peds.111.5.1113.
  14. Lewis CW, Boulter S, Keels MA, et al. Oral health and pediatricians: Results of a national survey. Acad Pediatr 2009;9(6):457–461. DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2009.09.016.
  15. Kaliyaperumal K. Guideline for conducting a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) study. AECS Illum 2004;4(1):7–9.
  16. Terwee CB, Bot SD, de Boer MR, et al. Quality criteria were proposed for measurement properties of health status questionnaire. J Clin Epidemiol 2006;60(1):34–42. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.03.012.
  17. Hemphill JF. Interpreting the magnitudes of correlation coefficients. Am Psychol 2003;58(1):78–79. DOI: 10.1037/0003-066x.58.1.78.
  18. Poornima P, Bajaj M, Nagaveni NB, et al. Evaluation of the knowledge, attitude and awareness in prevention of dental caries amongst paediatricians. Int J Commun Med Public Health 2015;2(1):64–70. DOI: 10.5455/2394-6040.ijcmph20150213.
  19. Sabbagh HJ, El-Kateb M, Al Nowaiser A, et al. Assessment of pediatricians dental knowledge, attitude and behavior in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2011; 35(4):371–376. DOI: 10.17796/jcpd.35.4.8626721g8742102p.
  20. Alshammari TM, Ingle NA, Baseer MA, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of pediatricians and family physicians about early childhood caries in Riyadh City. J Oral Health Commun Dent 2020;14(2):54–61. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10062-0075.
  21. Soares IMV, Silva AM, Moura AF, et al. Conduct of pediatricians in relation to the oral health of children. Rev Odontol UNESP 2013;42(4):266–272. DOI: 10.1590/S1807-25772013000400006.
  22. Nassif N, Noueiri B, Bacho R, et al. Awareness of Lebanese pediatricians regarding children's oral health. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(1): 82–88. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1412.
  23. Chouchene F, Djait A, Masmoudi F, et al. Pediatricians’ knowledge, attitude, and practice toward early childhood caries in Tunisia. J South Asian Assoc Pediatr Dent 2021;4(1):27–32. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3062.
  24. da Silva Bastos V de A, Freitas-Fernandes L, Kelly da Silva Fidalgo T, et al. Mother-to-child transmission of Streptococcus mutans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent 2015; 43(2):181–191. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2014.12.001.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.