S.Z. Marashi - Health Education and Health Promotion Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
H. Shahbazi - Health Education and Health Promotion Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
A. Heidarnia - Health Education and Health Promotion Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a worldwide disease increasing in many developing countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive behaviors of early childhood caries among mothers referring to comprehensive health service centers in Ahvaz. Instruments & Methods: This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed among ۳۱۸ mothers with infants from ۶ months to one-year-old in ۲۰۲۰. The method of data collection was a researcher-made questionnaire whose reliability and validity were confirmed. It included demographic information and questions about measuring awareness, attitude, self-efficacy, and performance in early childhood carieschr('۳۹') preventive behaviors among mothers referring to comprehensive health service centers in Ahvaz. The data were analyzed by statistical tests such as ANOVA, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS statistical software. Findings: The results showed that the mean scores of motherschr('۳۹') awareness were ۶.۲۳±۱.۸۶, the attitude was ۳۸.۴۸±۴.۸۵, self-efficacy was ۲۰.۹۱±۳.۱۴, and performance was ۵.۵۳±۲.۱۹. There was a significant correlation between awareness, attitude, self-efficacy, and performance. There was also a significant relationship between parentschr('۳۹') awareness and education and the motherchr('۳۹')s job (p<۰.۰۵). Conclusions: The motherschr('۳۹') awareness and performance are at a moderate level. Therefore, in the Health Service Centers, it is necessary to consider motherschr('۳۹') awareness and performance with infants from ۶ months to one-year-old, when the babychr('۳۹')s first teeth grew.

Dental Caries, Prevention, Infants, Mothers