Mother's knowledge and self-reported practice on management of traumatic dental injuries in 8-years-old children and it determinants

Facial trauma may have significant negative impacts on physiologic function, esthetics, and psychological status in children. Appropriate on-time management of Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) would prevent progress of future consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate mothers’ knowledge and self-reported practice on management TDIs in 8-years-old children and its determinants. Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 284 second-grade pupils were selected from six randomly selected governmental primary schools (3 girls’ school) in Region 11 of Tehran Municipality. A standard anonymous questionnaire was distributed among selected pupils to be filled by their mothers. The questionnaire requested information on demographic characteristics, previous experience of dental trauma, mothers’ knowledge on management of TDIs, and mothers’ self-reported reaction to four designed cases of TDIs. After one week all filled questionnaires were returned and data was analyzed using SPSS (version 16) and Regression Tests. Totally, 201 questionnaires were returned (81 girls, 120 boys, response rate=71%). Knowledge mean score was 2.8±1.7 (from total score of 9) and self-reported practice mean score was 4.1±1.2 (from total score of 7). Higher knowledge score was significantly associated with higher paternal age and owning personal house. Higher self-reported practice score was associated with higher levels of mothers’ level of education and owning personal house. There is a room to enhance knowledge and promote practice in management of TDIs among parents specially mothers. For this purpose, educational programs should be conducted for parents especially in school settings.