EFFECT OF PARENTAL EDUCATION, OCCUPATION AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON DENTAL CARIES IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent oral diseases of public health concern affecting adolescents. Investigations have reported that family income and parental education directly affects the oral health of children. However, the trend is not obvious in adolescents. Objective: To determine the effect of parental education, occupation and socioeconomic status on dental caries in adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 adolescent students of government and private schools. Dental caries was measured and assessed by DMFT index. Statistical associations were confirmed by chi-square, independent sample t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Binary logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios. Results: Overall frequency of dental caries was 72%. Dental caries and DMFT was significantly higher 89% in adolescents with illiterate father, 84.3 in adolescents with illiterate mother, 90.9% in adolescents with unemployed father, 75.2% in adolescents with unemployed mother and 87.1% in lower class. The odds of developing dental caries were higher in adolescents of illiterate, unemployed and economically deprived parents. Conclusion: Dental caries was inversely associated with parental education, occupation and socioeconomic status. The problem is severe, affecting three-quarter of the adolescent population.