VOLUME 15 (Supplement)

Knowledge and attitude of Filipino primary caregivers on sugary foods and dental caries among preschool children

Objectives. Sugar consumption significantly increases dental caries risk. Primary caregivers, usually mothers, make decisions on purchasing and preparing foods for their children. However, good knowledge and attitude may not necessarily translate to better practice. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of primary caregivers on sugary foods and beverages and dental caries and the association to the frequency of their consumption by their preschool children. Methodology. Primary caregivers of preschool children enrolled in the Philippine Christian University Kiddie Kollege participated in the analytical cross-sectional study (n=46). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires for knowledge and attitude, and the Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) for practices (i.e., frequency of the children’s sugary foods and beverages consumption). Scores of the participants were categorized based on the number of correct answers. Fisher’s exact test and t-test were used to assess the association between the variables. Results. Among the participants, 56.52% had high knowledge, 82.61% had good attitude, and 84.78% had good practices (i.e., children with low frequency of consumption). No significant association was found between the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the primary caregivers and their demographic profile. The association between the knowledge and attitude of the primary caregivers and the children’s consumption was also not statistically significant. Conclusion. No significant association was found between demographic profile and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP). Knowledge and attitude of primary caregivers also had a weak association to their children’s consumption of sugary foods and beverages. This, however, may be due to the limited sample size and distribution where majority of the respondents were mothers. Nevertheless, this study provides insights on the subject in the Philippine setting.