Determinants of oral health-related quality of life and its affecting factors in preschool children: Cross-sectional study

Background: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is the main aspect of children’s oral health. In this study, it was intended to explore OHRQoL and its pertinent factors in pre-school children.Methods: This cross-sectional study was directed on ۳۵۲ mothers with children (aged ۳–۵ years) based on stratified random sampling in health centers in Tabriz, Iran. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire completed by the caregiver, which includes socio-demographic data, OHRQoL (۱۳ items), caregiver-reported children’s oral health status, and tooth brushing. The one-way ANOVA, independent samples t test, and linear regression were applied to define the predicators of OHRQoL using SPSS ۱۶ at ۹۵% significance level.Results: Mothers’ mean age was ۳۱.۵ (SD = ۴.۹). It was ۴.۱ (SD = ۰.۸۲) for children. According to the results, the majority of the mothers (۸۸%) were homemakers and ۲۵% had higher education. The mean (SD) of OHRQoL was ۱۸.۸ (۷.۹) out of ۶۵. The items most related to OHRQoL were feeling guilty (۲۵%), dental pain (۳۵%), and difficulty eating (۱۴.۸%). According to the results of multiple regression, OHRQoL had significant relationship with economic status (P = ۰.۰۴۶), caregiver-reported children’s oral health status (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱), children’s frequency of tooth-brushing (P = ۰.۰۰۱), and their age (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱). In total, these factors described ۰.۲۲% of the variance in children’s OHRQoL. OHRQoL did not have a statistically significant relationship with mothers’ education level or children’s gender.Conclusion: According to the findings, the key predictor of OHRQoL was children’s oral health status, tooth brushing, and age. Effective educational interventions could be designed based on these predictors to improve the OHRQoL of children.

Keywords:

Quality of Life , Oral Health-Related Quality of Life , Dental Caries , Child , Preschool , Oral Health