A Study on the Oral Health Literacy and Related Factors of Mother’s in Some Areas

Background: This study aims to provide basic data for development of the level-based oral health care program depending on the mother ’ s oral health literacy by finding out how mother ’ s oral health literacy can effect on the preschool children ’ s oral health and behavior. Methods: The survey was conducted on 192 mothers who have preschool children and the data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression analysis to identify differences in verbal and functional oral health literacy. Results: The study showed statistical significance (p ＜ 0.05) in educational level depending on differences in verbal and functional oral health literacy by sociodemographic factor. In differences in verbal and functional literacy depending on experience of education for oral health behavior and oral health, statistical significance (p ＜ 0.05) was showed highly on verbal and functional literacy in the case that subjects have an experience of education for oral health and their children have not been experienced of oral illness. And when it comes to the case that subjects have experience of education for oral health within one to two years, statistical significance was showed highly on verbal literacy. It showed that verbal and functional oral health literacy effects to oral health care behavior of children judging from results that the higher level of mother ’ s verbal oral health literacy, the higher score of children ’ s oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop the systematic program which is appropriate for characteristics of each oral period in childhood depending on level of primary caregiver ’ s oral health literacy, and systematic education should be preceded to enhance the literacy of the caregiver. It is considered necessary to improve the oral health care of children by developing a manual for oral health care education to enhance primary caregiver ’ s oral health literacy.