Atribuição causal de saúde bucal de crianças atendidas na Faculdade de Odontologia – UFPel na visão dos pais

Abstract

Childhood oral health is determined by biological, behavioral, social, and psychological factors. Studies report the influence of parents' psychosocial factors on their children's oral health outcomes. Causal attribution is a psychological model that seeks to assess how individuals perceive the causes and attributions of various health conditions. Through this model, it is possible to evaluate an individual’s perception of cause and control over health outcomes, which influences motivation and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Therefore, the present study described the internality and control of the causes attributed by parents to the oral health of their children up to six years old, who were treated at the clinics of the School of Dentistry at the Federal University of Pelotas. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, gathering sociodemographic information about the parents and the child. A total of 176 parents of children up to six years old, treated between May and October 2024, participated in the study. Most participants were mothers (88.6%), single (62.9%), aged between 30 and 40 years (40.9%), with white, yellow, or Indigenous skin color (58%), and had between 9 and 12 years of education (40.6%). Most parents rated their children's oral health as very good or good (54.5%). Regarding the study’s main outcome—causal attribution—the majority of parents' attributions were categorized as internal and uncontrollable causes (52.7%). The results indicate that parents do not perceive themselves as capable of controlling the health-disease process related to their child's oral health. Although they recognize their role in adopting healthy behaviors during childhood and preventing oral health problems, especially dental caries, they face challenges in implementing these practices. Additionally, parents believe that other factors, including the child, also influence the control of the health-disease process. In light of these findings, it is suggested that collective educational techniques aimed at parents be adopted, along with individual guidance in pediatric dental clinics. These strategies should not only focus on transmitting knowledge but also on identifying ways to overcome barriers to implementing practices that improve aspects related to nutrition and oral hygiene in childhood. This approach should consider the daily challenges of urban life, which were frequently mentioned by parents.