Maternal Psychosocial Factors in Severe Early Childhood Caries Children

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the socio-emotional characteristics in a sample of Chilean mothers with children aged to 3 - 5 years who developed severe early childhood caries. Method: The clinical, environmental and psycho-socio-cultural data of children aged to 3-5 years (n=250) and both genders (dmf ≥4) were included. The data of their mothers registered in different health centers were also included in the clinical history and behavioral survey. The instrument validated in Chile included the following factors: depressed feelings, relationship problems, feelings of abandon, isolation feelings, and family problems. Result: The results show an average age of 30 years for mothers. A high percentage (94%) of them had coursed a high school or university studies and more than a half (52%) has no partner. The characteristics of mothers who have children (dmf ≥4) with severe early childhood caries present a significant difference in depressed feelings (p-value=0.0064), relationship problems (p-value=0.0014) and family problems (p-value=0.0005). Conclusion: Maternal variables have been studied within the context of dental caries development in young children. Mothers showed depressive symptoms, partner relationship problems and family relationship problems