| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 2 | Page : 75-78 |
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Knowledge of early childhood caries among anganwadi workers in davangere city, India
Srinidhi Palagatti Basavaraj, Sakeenabi Basha, Pavagouda Gopalakrishna Naveen Kumar, Prashant Goudar Manjunath, Sushanth Veerabhadraiah Hirekalmath, Mohammad Imranulla
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India
Correspondence Address:
Sakeenabi Basha
Department of Community Dentistry, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere - 577 004, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2231-6027.135976
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Aim: An Anganwadi worker (AW) can be a vital link in the health care delivery system as she provides a package of services to mothers and children. Oral health knowledge among these workers is an integral component of preventing early childhood caries (ECC). The present study aimed to assess the existing knowledge of early childhood oral health-related factors among AWs. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among AWs in Davangere city, India. The study involved face-to-face interviews and recording the response to a pretested 12-item questionnaire. Of the 80 participants, 74 participants responded to the questionnaire. Results: Of the 74 respondents, 34.3% agreed that a mother's diet during pregnancy affects the development of the infant's teeth, while 47.6% disagreed. Sixty-four percent of the participants agreed that problem with babies' teeth affect the adult teeth, and 85% of the participants agreed that breastfeeding is important for the health of the child's teeth. Ninety-two percent of the participants agreed that untreated tooth decay affects the general health of the child, and 47.3% agreed that bacteria that cause decay can spread from mother to child. Conclusion: Our study concluded that AWs showed some degree of knowledge about certain aspects of ECC. The knowledge however appeared to be inconsistent. We recommend that AWs need to be educated by conducting periodic oral health education programs, which will increase their awareness about ECC. |
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