Parents' Perspectives on Early Childhood Oral Health Care-Results from a Survey in a Vulnerable Population in Palos de la Frontera (Huelva, Spain).

INTRODUCTION

Oral health in early childhood is essential. Parents, as the primary caregivers, must possess basic knowledge to achieve optimal oral health status.

OBJECTIVES

The study aims to assess parents' knowledge and perspectives on early childhood oral health and to evaluate how nationality and educational attainment influence their preventive habits and dental priorities within a nursery and primary school in the province of Huelva (Spain).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The sample consisted of 129 parents of children aged 3, 4, and 5 years from the aforementioned educational center. A modified questionnaire, validated by experts in the field, was used as the assessment tool.

RESULTS

Nationality and education were key determinants of oral health literacy. Spanish-born guardians reported significantly higher dental attendance for their children compared to foreign-born guardians (97.7% vs. 84.2%; p = 0.030). A profound cultural gap was observed in caries etiology: 71.1% of foreign-born respondents attributed caries to "infections or heredity," while 98.4% of Spanish-born respondents correctly identified behavioral factors (p < 0.001). Regarding educational attainment, 75% of the high-education group prioritized functional health (posterior sector) compared to only 26.3% in the low-education group (p < 0.001). Additionally, a non-linear gap was found in knowledge of primary tooth complications, with the medium-education group showing the lowest awareness (34.8%; p = 0.047).