Alterations in determinants of parental oral health behaviour associated with education level.

Aims. Dental attitudes and beliefs of parents are related to the oral health status of their offspring. This study aimed to investigate longitudinal changes in parental determinants of oral health behaviour based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and to evaluate the impact of maternal educational level. Methods. The cohort consisted of 1,057 children, or 64% of all children born between October 2003 and July 2004 in two distinct regions in Flanders (Belgium). All participants attended the well-baby clinics, were Dutch-speaking and signed an informed consent. Validated questionnaires, completed at birth, age three and five, assessed attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioural control and intention towards three behaviours: dietary habits, oral hygiene habits and dental attendance. Linear mixed model analyses with repeated measures were applied. The study protocol received ethical approval from the Medical Ethics Committee at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Results. Analyses were performed on the data of 949 participants (90%). Maternal education level and age had a significant effect on the three oral health related behaviours. Positive parental attitudes towards oral health related behaviours increased between birth and age three (p<0.001), whereas the scores for subjective norms and intentions decreased (p<0.001). Scores remained stable in the following years. High-educated mothers scored significantly higher on attitudes, perceived behavioural control and intentions compared to low-educated mothers (p