Level of Knowledge And Attitude Of Mothers Through Health Awareness Programs Towards Nursing Bottle Caries: A Cross Sectional Study At Al-karkh Primary Health Care Sector.

Abstract

Introduction:Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Nursing Bottle Caries(NBC),and as a comprehensive address, referred to Early Childhood Caries(ECC), Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking smile, also it is important for their general health,The role of mothers in avoiding children with nursing Bottle caries is a large and fundamental ,mothersorientations and knowledge , is essential to reduce the percentage of children with tooth decay, developed countries are concerned with awareness and health education programs as a first step in achieving a healthy and disease-free society.Objective:the purpose of this study was: (a) To explore what mothers know about what the meaning of nursing bottle caries (NBC) and its effect on their children and which information they need. (b)To identify mother’s attitude to maintain the health of their children teeth. (c) To determine the level of health awareness by health programs in the Ministry of Health.Methods:A cross sectional study was Included(85) mothers whom their children under the age of five and suffering from (NBC)who visit the primary health care centers within the primary health care sectorFor the purpose of following up the regular maternal and child health program, which were 9 centers in Baghdad/ Alkarkh,from February 2017 -April2017, Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, the data was analyzed using SPSS software version 11.0.Results:  Knowledge regarding risk and protective factors amongst parents was variable and sometimes at odds with contemporary evidence, the level of knowledge and procedures towards nursing bottle caries is not sufficient to protect the child, because of the poor health education programs that mothers receive at different levels of education.Conclusions:  The results of this study have implications for efforts to prevent dental decay in this very young age group. Ministry of Health, including public health Institutions and its primary health care centers,need support to provide information and promote confidence with regard to basic health information about nursing bottle caries in children teeth and the necessary measures for prevention, including the importance of the presence of fluoride in drinking water and toothpaste, visit the dentist during the first year after the birth of the child, the effect of sugars in breast milk and natural juices. Attention should also be given to the contribution of early contact with females who are newly married in oral health education and promotion programs.