Effects of Oral Health Literacy Development Program for Child Caregivers in Huaimek District, Kalasin Province.

Abstract

     This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate demographic characteristics of participants in the oral health literacy development program, examine knowledge, literacy, attitudes, and oral health care behaviors of child caregivers before and after program implementation, and compare the levels of oral health literacy, attitudes, and oral health care behaviors of child caregivers before and after program participation at Huaimek Hospital, Kalasin Province. The sample consisted of 65 caregivers of early childhood children aged 3-5 years using a one-group design. Research instruments included an oral health literacy development program, demographic interview forms, knowledge tests, oral health literacy assessment forms, attitude assessment forms, and oral health care behavior assessment forms. Statistics used included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired t-test analysis.

     Study results revealed that among 65 participants, 89.23% were female with a mean age of 33.20 ± 8.15 years. Most participants were mothers (80.00%), had primary education (47.69%), worked as farmers (64.62%), and earned less than 10,000 baht per month (43.08%). Most children had experienced dental caries (53.85%). After participating in the 12-week program, oral health knowledge increased from 42.25% to 81.40%, oral health literacy improved from 56.20% to 83.71%, attitudes enhanced from 57.88% to 84.30%, and oral health care behaviors increased from 51.68% to 81.64%, all statistically significant at the .05 level (t = 18.92, 15.47, 19.67, 21.35, respectively).