Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: Caregivers’ oral health literacy (OHL) can be effective in increasing their children’s knowledge, and can improve their oral health-related behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mothers’ OHL and children’s oral health status.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 202 6-year child/mother dyads in Semirom, Iran, applying a cluster sampling method. Self-administered questionnaires (Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire) requested information about mothers’ OHL. Children’s oral health status (dmft and pufa) was recorded via clinical examination. Pearson correlation coefficient, spearman correlation coefficient, independent T-test, and a linear regression model were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Among 202 pre-school children, 99 were girls (49%). The mean OHL score of mothers was 63.2 (Max achievable score=100, SD=18.9). Higher score of OHL among mothers was associated with their children’s less missing teeth (mt) and more filled teeth (ft) (P<0.05). No significant the association existed between the mothers OHL and their children’s dt, dmft, and pufa. Childrens of younger mothers, more educated mothers, and those with better oral health behaviors in terms of daily flossing and tooth brushing, showed lower scores of dmft and pufa (P<0.05).
Conclusion: A significant association revealed between mothers’ OHL and the oral health status of their children. Thus, it is recommended to increase mothers’ OHL to improve their children’s oral health status.

Background and Aims: One of the most important determinants of health is Oral Health Literacy (OHL). The aim of this study was to investigate the OHL among nomadic population in Kouhrang city as pristine society.
Materials and Methods: This was a  cross -sectional descriptive study among 200 nomadic population aged 18-60 years of Kouhrang city in 2018. Data were collected using a questionnaire and face-to-face interview, sampling method was performed by randomized cluster. The questionnaire consisted of 17 questions in 4 sections of reading comprehension, listening, perception of number, and decision making. According to the number of questions, the questionnaire score was formed 0 to 17 and the nomadic populations were categorized into three groups with inadequate OHL (0-9), borderline OHL (10-11), and adequate OHL (912-17).
Results: The mean and standard deviation of the participants in this study was 35.49±12.00. The results showed that 7.00% of participants had sufficient OHL (12-17), 21.51% borderline (10-11), and 71.50% had inadequate OHL
(0-9). The mean and standard deviation of OHL score in general was 7.65±2.80, and the mean DMFT index was 8.03±5.64 (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the OHL score in the nomadic population was low, and also the mean DMFT index was very high. It is necessary to pay attention to the timely prevention and treatment of the teeth, as well as serious attention to the health education in this population.

Background and Aims: Oral health literacy plays an important role in reducing oral health disparities. Evaluation of oral health literacy can be done at individual and population levels. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating oral health literacy among students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2023. Materials and Methods: This study was descriptive, applied and cross-sectional. The research population included the students of different academic levels of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, except the final semester students. The sample size was calculated based on the total number of students studying at different levels at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in the second half of the academic year in 2023 using an appropriate statistical formula. Sampling was done in a stratified-random manner according to faculty, field, and level of education. The oral health literacy of the participants based on education level, age, and gender was measured by the oral health literacy adult questionnaire (OHL Adults Questionnaire: OHL-AQ). Data analysis was done using SPSS 27 software and descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentage), independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Tukey test. Results: The findings indicated that the average oral health literacy score of students was 14.75±1.37. Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between the average oral health literacy score of students and the parameters of education level, gender, and age of students (P-value < 0.05). This indictaed that the oral health literacy of students increased in the doctoral level and also with increasing age. In addition, the female students had higher oral health literacy. Conclusion: Based on the results, the oral health literacy among Shiraz medical students was high. People with higher education level and age had higher level of oral and dental health literacy than people with lower education level and age. Oral and dental health literacy level was higher in girls than boys. It can be suggested that a 1) suitable platform be provided in order to improve the level of education of the society, leading to the improvement of the oral health literacy of the people; 2) regular dental examinations in order to increase the oral health literacy of the society is encouraged and promoted, especially in lower year students; and 3) research in effective training in the field of oral health literacy to increase the oral health literacy of people in the society.