Prediction of Mother’s Health Behaviors about Their Children Oral Health Based on the Planned Behavior Theory in Khaf City in 2019

The high prevalence of childhood dental caries is one of the most common dental problems and mother’s participation in oral health programs can decrease the caries rate. Undoubtedly, one of the applicable strategies is health education and one of the most effective training models is the Planned Behavior Theory. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify influential factors that predict motherchr('39')s health behaviors about their children’s oral health based on the Planned Behavior Theory in Khaf city in 2019.

This cross-sectional study was performed by 200 mothers with children under three who were randomly selected from the mothers referred to Khaf Health Centers. Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed. The questionnaire included demographic information, knowledge questions and Planned Behavior Theory structures. Data were analyzed by SPSS20 using descriptive statistics, regression and Pearson correlation coefficient at a significant level of 0.05.

Our results showed that motherschr('39') average score for knowledge was 17.55 ± 5.75, for attitude, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention was 42.49 ± 4.61and 17.40 ± 2.89 and 47.3 ± 9.43 respectively. The motherschr('39') average score of subjective norms was 32.66±4.80 and average score of behavior was 24.86± 8.76. Based on the results of the linear regression test, predictors of health behavior include behavioral intent (β = 0.198, P = 0.002), and subjective norms (Β = 0.432, P < 0.001), and predicted 28.8% of behavior variance. Structures of attitude (Β = 0.199, P = 0.003) and subjective norms (Β = 0.287, P < 0.001) explained 13.8% of behavioral
intention variance.

Planned Behavior Theory can predict a part of oral health behaviors. The results of this study showed the application of this theory with emphasis on promoting abstract norms and the intention to perform behavior in educational interventions have effective results.