Educative practices and attitudes within the pre-school environment: evaluating the education professionals

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Dental Hygiene

Background:

• Child development is significantly influenced by school and family environments.
• Oral health education is a critical component of early childhood development.
• Understanding the role of education professionals in promoting oral hygiene is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the oral health care practices and attitudes of education professionals in Brazilian public pre-schools.
• To assess the perceived importance of oral health promotion by these professionals.
• To identify the extent of their involvement in oral hygiene activities with children and families.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection.
• Self-administered questionnaires with open and closed questions were used.
• Data from 245 education professionals across 24 pre-schools in Niterói, Brazil, were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The majority of education professionals prioritize toothbrushing as a key oral hygiene practice.
• Over 70% engaged in additional oral hygiene activities with schoolchildren, while 17.1% involved families.
• All participants acknowledged the vital role of education professionals in fostering healthy oral habits.

Conclusions:

• Education professionals in this study exhibit positive attitudes and practices towards children's oral health.
• They strongly recognize their influence on establishing healthy oral habits.
• There is a clear understanding of the importance of integrating dentists into educational oral health programs.