Analysis of factors related to visits to dental and oral health services for elementary school children in the working area of the BLUD UPTD Mekar Health Center, Kendari City

Background: According to the WHO (2022), the prevalence of dental and oral health problems, particularly dental caries, remains a major health problem. Elementary school-aged children are the most vulnerable group, possibly due to the influence of parental knowledge on children's dental and oral health. This lack of parental knowledge about the importance of maintaining children's dental and oral health results in low visits to pediatric dental and oral health services at community health centers.

Objective: To determine the relationship between parental knowledge and visits to dental and oral health services for elementary school children in the BLUD UPTD Mekar Health Center work area, Kendari City.

Methode: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional analytical method and sample selection using stratified random sampling. The total sample size was 305 mothers with elementary school children in the BLUD UPTD Mekar Health Center working area in Kendari City. Data were collected using questionnaires distributed to three elementary schools: SDN 86 Kendari, SDN 88 Kendari, and Madrasah Ibtidayyah Kendari.

Result: The results of the study showed that some respondents had less parental knowledge and the number of visits to dental and oral health services was less, and the results of the chi-square test were P value 0.116 or a relationship was found between parental knowledge and the number of dental and oral health services for elementary school children in the BLUD UPTD Mekar Health Center work area, Kendari City.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that in the BLUD UPTD Mekar Health Center working area of ​​Kendari City, there is still a lack of parental understanding of children's dental and oral health, resulting in a low number of visits to the dental and oral health services for elementary school children at the Health Center.