Associations between oral habits, dental anxiety, dental service utilization, and maternal mental health status among 6- to 12-year-old children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Purpose The current study sought to determine the associations between maternal mental health and oral habits, dental anxiety, and dental service utilization of 6- to 12-year-old children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Methods Data were obtained from a household survey involving 1411 mothers and their 6- to 12-year-old children. Data collected were the confounding (maternal age, child's age at last birthday, sex at birth and socioeconomic status), independent (maternal psychological distress, and depression status) and dependent (child's non-nutritive oral habits, dental anxiety level, and most recent dental visit) variables. Bivariate analyses were conducted to test the associations between the dependent and independent variables. After controlling for confounding variables, the associations between the dependent and independent variables were determined using multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses. Results Overall, 479 (33.9%) reported one oral habit, 189 (13.4%) reported two and 99 (7.0%) children reported three or more oral habits. Only 25 (1.7%) children reported a dental visit in the year preceding the study. Higher maternal psychological distress was associated with higher dental anxiety in children (AOR: 0.094; 95% CI - 0.080 to - 0.293; p < 0.001). There was no significant association between maternal psychological distress, child's non-nutritive oral habits, and the child's most recent dental visit. There was also no association between maternal depression and the child's non-nutritive oral habits, dental anxiety level, and most recent dental visit. Conclusion Maternal psychological distress was a significant risk indicator for dental anxiety, but not for dental service utilization or non-nutritive oral habits among children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Maternal educational status was also associated with dental anxiety. Further research is needed to elucidate the study's findings.

Automated summary

The current study examined the associations between maternal mental health and oral habits, dental anxiety, and dental service utilization among 6- to 12-year-old children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The results showed that higher maternal psychological distress was associated with higher dental anxiety in children, but not with dental service utilization or non-nutritive oral habits.