การกำกับตนเองกับสุขภาพช่องปากในเด็กก่อนวัยเรียน อำเภอวังทอง จังหวัดพิษณุโลก

Abstract

This research utilized a matched pair case-control study design aimed to determine the self- regulation and factors associated to dental caries status among preschool children and its caregivers in Pinpolrath Tungtrongjit 12th School, Wangthong District, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Data were collected from 104 kindergarten 2 - 3 children, aged 4 - 6 years old, and 104 of its caregivers through assessment of the following: (1) self-regulation in children using Delay gratification task and Stroop like day night task; (2) self-regulation in children by interviewing caregivers using Children Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ); and (3) familial factors and child's oral health behaviors by face-to-face interview of caregivers. Particularly, 52 identified with severe early childhood caries and 52 caries-free pre-school children were included in this study matched according to child's gender and relationship with child and its caregiver. Findings showed that self-regulation factor related to dental caries status was Delay gratification (P<0.05). Conditional logistic regression analysis at 95% level of confidence interval also showed the occurrence of dental caries-free in children by odds ratios. The key factors with positive association on dental caries were Delay gratification (OR 3.11, 95% CI 0.43 - 22.60) family income (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.34 - 6.71), nocturnal feeding (OR 1.66, 95% CI 0.59 - 4.71), and simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) (OR 1.52,95% CI 0.60 - 3.84). Under the limitations of this study, relationship between self-regulation and dental caries in preschool children was not identified. This can be plausibly explained that self-regulation and dental caries are a board and multicomponent structure. There were some mediator variables such as child's behavior, familial factors, parenting style, etc. that cause mediation in the self-regulation and dental caries in preschool children. These findings indicate that family income, nocturnal feeding and simplified oral hygiene index are related to dental caries in preschool children and self- regulation. However, further investigation in this particular field is necessary. This understanding may lead to new oral health promotion strategies and stimulate participation among various stakeholders such as health workers, school, parents and community which may not only improve oral health, but also include desirable traits and other developmental aspect of children.