Table 1 Socio-behavioural factors influencing tooth-brushing frequency in primary school children of LGA (n = 703)
Socio-behavioural factors | na | Tooth-brushing Frequency | Chi squareb | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
< 2/ day (n = 247) | ≥ 2/ day (n = 454) | ||||
Child-specific characteristics | |||||
Age of the child, mean (SD) | 703 | 8.7 (2.0) | 8.9 (2.0) | 0.004c | 0.324 |
Gender of the child | |||||
Female | 348 | 120 (48.6) | 228 (50.2) | 0.172 | 0.679 |
Male | 353 | 127 (51.4) | 226 (49.8) | ||
Age when toothbrushing commenced | |||||
Less than 12 months of age | 45 | 12 (5.1) | 33 (7.8) | 1.742 | 0.187 |
12 months or more | 612 | 223 (94.9) | 389 (92.2) | ||
Last visit to dentist | |||||
Less than 12 months | 536 | 178 (72.4%) | 358 (79.0%) | 3.968 | 0.046 |
12 months or more | 163 | 68 (27.6%) | 95 (21.0%) | ||
Serves of sugar sweetened beverages per day | |||||
0 | 78 | 23 (9.3) | 55 (12.1) | 25.499 | < 0.001 |
1 | 132 | 28 (11.3) | 104 (22.9) | ||
2 | 171 | 54 (21.9) | 117 (25.8) | ||
3 | 138 | 59 (23.9) | 79 (17.4) | ||
4 or more | 182 | 83 (33.6) | 99 (21.8) | ||
Serves of chocolate per day | |||||
0 | 235 | 64 (25.9) | 171 (37.7) | 15.600 | < 0.001 |
1 | 329 | 118 (47.8) | 211 (46.5) | ||
2 or more | 137 | 65 (26.3) | 72 (15.9) | ||
Family-specific characteristics | |||||
Marital status of parents | |||||
Married or having partner | 560 | 177 (71.7%) | 383 (84.4%) | 16.061 | < 0.001 |
Single parent | 141 | 70 (28.3%) | 71 (15.6%) | ||
Age of mother | |||||
20–29 years | 73 | 36 (14.8%) | 37 (8.2%) | 9.850 | 0.007 |
30–39 years | 400 | 143 (58.6%) | 257 (57.0%) | ||
≥ 40 years | 222 | 65 (26.6%) | 157 (34.8%) | ||
Age of father | |||||
20–29 years | 25 | 10 (5.7) | 15 (3.9) | ||
30–39 years | 275 | 94 (54.0) | 181 (47.5) | ||
≥ 40 years | 255 | 70 (40.2) | 185 (48.6) | ||
Education status of mother | |||||
University | 170 | 44 (18.2%) | 126 (28.3%) | 8.643 | 0.003 |
Vocational or High school | 517 | 198 (81.8%) | 319 (71.7%) | ||
Education status of Father | |||||
University | 98 | 22 (12.3%) | 76 (20.1%) | 5.060 | 0.024 |
Vocational or high school | 460 | 157 (87.7%) | 303 (79.9%) | ||
Job of Mother | |||||
Managers and professionals | 147 | 36 (14.8%) | 111 (24.9%) | 23.694 | < 0.001 |
Skilled workers | 309 | 98 (40.2%) | 211 (47.4%) | ||
Pensioners and employed | 233 | 110 (45.1%) | 123 (27.6%) | ||
Job of father | |||||
Managers and professionals | 166 | 55 (31.6) | 111 (29.2) | 0.397 | 0.820 |
Skilled workers | 348 | 106 (60.9) | 242 (63.7) | ||
Pensioners and employed | 40 | 13 (7.5) | 27 (7.1) | ||
Parental attitude towards water fluoridation | |||||
Negative or unsure | 154 | 72 (29.1) | 82 (18.4) | 10.657 | 0.001 |
Positive | 539 | 175 (70.9) | 364 (81.6) | ||
Extractions due to tooth decay in mother | |||||
No extractions | 336 | 94 (38.1%) | 242 (53.3%) | 14.901 | < 0.001 |
One or more | 365 | 153 (61.9%) | 212 (46.7%) | ||
Extractions due to tooth decay in father | |||||
No extractions | 260 | 69 (38.8%) | 191 (49.5%) | 5.632 | 0.018 |
One or more | 304 | 109 (61.2%) | 195 (50.5%) | ||
Private dental insurance | |||||
No | 405 | 177 (75.3%) | 228 (53.3%) | 31.024 | < 0.001 |
Yes | 258 | 58 (24.7%) | 200 (46.7%) | ||
Family income | |||||
More than $100 K | 74 | 20 (10.8%) | 54 (16.0%) | 21.871 | < 0.001 |
$40–100 K | 247 | 69 (37.1%) | 178 (52.7%) | ||
Up to $40 K | 203 | 97 (52.2%) | 106 (31.4%) | ||