# Oral Health in Iraqi Schoolchildren: A Comprehensive Cross-Sectional Analysis of Sociodemographic Factors, Behavioural Patterns, and Parental Knowledge Influencing Dental Caries

## TL;DR

This study examines high dental caries rates in Iraqi schoolchildren and finds that factors like low maternal education, lack of dental visits, and poor parental knowledge are linked to untreated tooth decay.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with untreated dental caries in Iraqi children using a large cross-sectional sample.

## Key findings

- 94% of Iraqi schoolchildren had dental caries, with high dmft and DMFT scores in primary and permanent dentition.
- Lower maternal education, no dental visits, and poor parental knowledge were significantly associated with untreated tooth decay.
- Oral health behaviors among children were generally poor, despite some awareness of dental care.

## Abstract

To evaluate the caries status and its associated factors among Iraqi schoolchildren.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2022 with 372 primary schoolchildren aged 8–10 years in Kut City, Iraq. The study participants were selected using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Information about the children was collected through a questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, oral health-related behaviours, and parental knowledge regarding oral health. Moreover, a clinical dental examination was performed, which included assessment of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT, dmft) based on the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). The statistical analysis included the chi-squared test, ANOVA, and simple and multiple logistic regressions.

The children’s mean age was 9.0 years (± 0.82). The overall caries prevalence among the children was 94%. In terms of caries experience, in the primary dentition, 84% of the children had a mean dmft = 4, and in the permanent dentition, 61% of the children had a mean DMFT = 1.5. Multiple logistic regression showed that lower maternal educational level (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 0.43–10.07), no history of dental visits (OR = 10.99, 95% CI: 2.29–52.72), and poor parental knowledge (OR = 7.70, 95% CI: 1.74–34.12) were positively associated with the prevalence of untreated tooth decay in this group of schoolchildren.

Dental caries was found to be highly prevalent, while a favourable level of oral health behaviours was rare among schoolchildren in this study. The mother’s educational level, parents’ knowledge about oral health, and having a dental visit in the last year were found to be associated with caries.