Z. Ghazanfari - Public Health Department, School of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
M. Esmaeilikia - Public Health Department, School of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
M.S. Abedzade - Public Health Department, School of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
E. Gholami-Parizad - Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran

Aims: Dental caries in preschool children continues to be an important health problem in most countries. This study aimed to determine the effect of education to mothers based on the health belief model on decreasing the dental plaque index of ۳–۶ years old children. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted on ۸۸ mothers and their ۳–۶-years old children (NTotal=۱۷۶) referred to the Health Care Center No. ۱ in Ilam in ۲۰۱۵. Participants were randomly selected using a random number and randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups on a ۱:۱ ratio basis. A three-part questionnaire was used. Three training sessions were given to the intervention group; each lasted for one hour once a week. At one-month follow-up, the post-test questionnaires were administered to both groups. A trained dentist assessed the oral health status of children using O’Leary plaque index with a dental mirror and a probe in broad daylight. SPSS ۲۶ was used for data analysis, and the chi-square and T-test were applied to compare the data. Findings: The mean ages of mothers and their children were ۳۱.۲۸±۵.۶۳ years and ۴.۵±۱.۵۶ years, respectively. Despite the similarity of groups at the beginning of the study (p>۰.۰۵), significant differences were found between groups in follow-up (p≤۰.۰۰۱) and between before intervention and follow-up in the intervention group (p≤۰.۰۰۱) in all health belief model constructs, oral health practice, and the plaque index. Conclusion: Providing mothers with oral health education for their children can promote their beliefs and behavior relating to brushing their children’s teeth, and decreasing the plaque index.

Preschool Children, Oral Health, Dental Plaque Index, Health Belief Model, Educational Early Intervention