DOI: https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs211571578 ORIGINAL ARTICLE 1578 P J M H S Vol. 15, NO. 7, JUL 2021 Association of maternal oral health with early childhood caries among rural areas of Punjab ROHEEN SHAKEEL 1 , ALIYA ISHAQUE 2 , AAQIL MALIK 3 , SHAHZAD WAHEED QURESHI 4 , GULREZ AMIN 5 , FAISAL ALI BALOCH 6 , AMINA TARIQ 7 1 Demonstrator, Department of physiology, Bolan medical University of health sciences, 2 Demonstrator, Department of physiology, Bolan medical University of health sciences, 3 Associate Professor of Prosthodontics, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Lahore 4 Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Lahore, 5 Associate Professor of Bio-chemistry, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Lahore, 6 Assistant Professor of Science of Dental Materials, Baqai Dental College, Baqai Medical University, Karachi 7 Postgraduate research coordinator, Research cell, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Lahore Correspondence to Amna Tariq, Email id: aminatariq8@gmail.com Cell:0336-0333108 ABSTRACT Aim: To explore the relationship between oral health status of mothers and caries prevalence of caries among their children in rural areas of Pakistan. Methodology: This crossectional study was conducted in 9 rural health centers of Punjab, Pakistan. Purposive convenient sampling was used to collect data. Sample size was 500 mothers with their children. Results: Socioeconomic status of family as well as the purpose for the last visit at dental hospital for the treatment of child were found positively linked with the dmfs of child. Sample of children at very low socioeconomic status (OR: 2.16; 95%CI: 1.36-2.98). Children who visited dental hospital with the reason of having dental problems (OR: 1.89; 95%CI: 1.25-2.59). Greater dmfs score was found among children with poor oral hygiene (OR: 1.98; 95%CI: 1.27-3.25). The education of mother was found to be negatively linked with dmfs score of child. Conclusion: The relationship between maternal and dental caries in children was clearly explained by socioeconomic status or dental behaviors of mother and child in terms of intake of sugar, oral hygiene and reason for last dental visit for child. Keywords: Maternal oral health, dmfs, childhood carries INTRODUCTION Child development is based majorly on mothers as they take care for the growth and wellbeing of children. For the health improvement, mothers provide necessary assistance in terms of medical and emotional support 1 . Multiple factors may influence the health of children as well as their mothers, for instance, hereditary factors may include genetic factors, mental health issues 2 and socio economic conditions of family. Extensive research has been done on the effect of maternal health on early childhood caries 3,4 which has led to explore the reason behind these childhood conditions 5 . This transfer mechanism showed that mothers are the main bacterial colonization source and socialization for their offspring. Acquiring healthy behaviors, dental services familiarity at earlier stage and ways of coping with stressors of life should be fostered by mothers 3,5 . Although, oral health of parents reflects their frame of mind very well, which could influence their diet related choices and dental services usage, very limited literature is available which assessed the relationship between the oral health status of mother and prevalence of dental caries among children 6 . A study suggested that children between the age ranges from 2 to 6 years have more likely to develop dental caries if their mothers have untreated decayed tooth as well as tooth loss. 7 Similar research investigation conducted by Pinto et al. suggested that dmfs score of children between the age of 2 years to 3.5 years ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Received on 17-02-2021 Accepted on 27-06-2021 was linked with the prevalence of caries among mothers but gingival bleeding in mothers was not linked with dmfs score of child 8 . Prevalence of dental caries in children between the age of 11-12 years was positively associated to the maternal caries experience 9 , even if, in past year, the mothers have any active decay 10 . The literature on this association is limited and other maternal oral health factors need exploration. The current study was designed to explore the relationship between oral health status of mothers and caries prevalence of caries among their children in rural areas of Pakistan. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross sectional study was conducted in 9 rural health centers of Punjab, Pakistan. Purposive convenient sampling was used to collect data with permission from Ethical Committee. Sample size was 500 mothers with their children. Inclusion criteria: 1. Age range between 2 years-6 years 2. Both genders 3. Patients with dental caries Exclusion Criteria: 1. Children with comorbidities were excluded 2. Pregnant patients Data Collection procedure: Questionnaire was used to collect data which was filled by mothers and for clinical data, examinations done for both mothers and their children. As demographic variables, questionnaire consisted of age, socioeconomic status and behavioral