Oral health beliefs and dental caries among children of Udupi district

Dental caries is multifactorial disease and is influenced by socio-demographic factors and health beliefs of the individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of oral health beliefs with caries experience in children of Udupi district. We conducted a cross-sectional survey 13"15 year old school children (n=463). A self-administered kannada version of oral health belief questionnaire was used. Clinical examination was carried out to assess the dental caries among children. Factor analysis revealed a 5 factor structure. Sampling adequacy was also high based on the Kaiser’s measure of sampling adequacy (0.813) and communality values of over 0.3 indicated that the variables were reliable. Internal consistency (standardized item alpha) was 0.753. The domains that showed significant higher scores in caries free than carious children were benefits of prevention, barriers, perceived seriousness and seriousness about oral disease (p=0.005, 0.044, 0.018 and 0.019) respectively. The modified version oral health beliefs scale discriminated children with caries from caries free children.