Investigation of Preventive Behaviors of Early Childhood Caries among Mothers Referring to Comprehensive Health Service Centers in Ahvaz, Iran

Introduction: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a worldwide disease increasing in many developing countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive behaviors of early childhood caries among mothers referring to comprehensive health service centers in Ahvaz. Instruments Methods: This descriptiveanalytical and crosssectional study was performed among 318 mothers with infants from 6 months to oneyearold in 2020. The method of data collection was a researchermade questionnaire whose reliability and validity were confirmed. It included demographic information and questions about measuring awareness, attitude, selfefficacy, and performance in early childhood carieschr( 39 ) preventive behaviors among mothers referring to comprehensive health service centers in Ahvaz. The data were analyzed by statistical tests such as ANOVA, ttest, and Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS statistical software. Findings: The results showed that the mean scores of motherschr( 39 ) awareness were 6.23 ±1.86, the attitude was 38.48 ±4.85, selfefficacy was 20.91 ±3.14, and performance was 5.53 ±2.19. There was a significant correlation between awareness, attitude, selfefficacy, and performance. There was also a significant relationship between parentschr( 39 ) awareness and education and the motherchr( 39 )s job (p 0.05). Conclusions: The motherschr( 39 ) awareness and performance are at a moderate level. Therefore, in the Health Service Centers, it is necessary to consider motherschr( 39 ) awareness and performance with infants from 6 months to oneyearold, when the babychr( 39 )s first teeth grew.