Effects of time and socio-economic status on the determinants of oral health-related behaviours of parents of preschool children

Van den Branden S, Van den Broucke S, Leroy R, Declerck D. Hoppenbrouwers K. Effects of time and socio‐economic status on the determinants of oral health‐related behaviours of parents of preschool children. Eur J Oral Sci 2012; 120: 153–160. © 2012 Eur J Oral Sci The oral health‐related beliefs of parents have an important impact on the oral health status of their children; however, they are not stable over time. This study aimed to assess the changes, over time, in the determinants of parental oral health‐related behaviour based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and to investigate socio‐economic inequalities. The cohort consisted of the parents – mainly the mothers – of 1,057 children born in 2003 and 2004 in Flanders (Belgium). According to the Theory of Planned Behaviour, validated questionnaires, completed at children’s birth and at age 3 and 5 yr, assessed parental attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioural control, and intention towards three behaviours: dietary habits, oral hygiene habits, and dental attendance. Linear mixed‐model analyses were applied. Positive parental attitudes towards oral health‐related behaviours increased between birth and 3 yr of age, whereas the scores for subjective norms and intentions decreased. Scores remained stable for children between three and 5 yr of age. Highly educated mothers had significantly higher scores for attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and intentions than less‐educated mothers. Health promotion campaigns should take these natural changes and inequalities of dental beliefs into account when developing and evaluating interventions.