Relationship between Caries Experience and Mothers' Dental Care Knowledge and Attitude among Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

The aim of this study was to assess oral health care and use of dental services among preschool Palestinian refugee children aged 3 to 6 years old, as well as to evaluate oral health care knowledge of their mothers. Cross-sectional study was carried out through a survey about oral health care of 120 refugee children randomly selected from two nurseries inside a Palestinian camp for refugees in Beirut, Lebanon. Dental examination was performed and mothers were surveyed about their dental care knowledge and attitudes toward their children. The mean Decayed-Missing-Filled index (dmf) index was 6.5 ± 5.25. The main determinants presenting a significant associa- tion with dmf were frequency of sweet consumption, frequency of brushing, brushing starting age, and dental visit experience. Caries severity increased with age and was higher among boys. Adequate strategies should be targeted to cover the unmet den- tal needs of refugee’s society is needed. Resume Le but de cette etude etait d’evaluer la sante buccale et l’utili- sation des services de soins dentaires chez les enfants refugies palestiniens âges de 3 a 6 ans, ainsi que les connaissances a propos de la sante buccodentaire chez leurs meres. Une etude transversale a ete effectuee au moyen d’un sondage sur la sante buccodentaire chez 120 enfants refugies choisis au hasard a partir de deux garderies a l’interieur des camps de refugies palestiniens a Beyrouth, Liban. L’examen dentaire a ete effectue et les meres ont ete interrogees au sujet de leurs connaissances a propos des soins dentaires et des attitudes a l’egard de leurs enfants. La moyenne de l’indice CAO etait de 6.5 ± 5,25. Les principaux determinants qui ont presente une association significative avec le CAO etaient: la frequence de la consommation des aliments sucres, la frequence du brossage, l’âge du debut de brossage, l’experience des visites dentaires. La gravite de la carie aug- mente avec l’âge; elle a ete plus elevee chez les garcons. Une strategie adequate necessaire devrait etre ciblee pour cou- vrir les besoins non satisfaits des soins dentaires des refugies dans la societe.