Factors associated with oral health-related quality of life among three-year old preschoolers in Vietnam

ABSTRACTBackground Studies about oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among preschool children in Vietnam are still limited. This study aimed to examine the OHRQoL of three-year preschool children and identify associated factors.Methods We performed a cross-sectional study in three kindergartens located in a city in the northern province of Vietnam from April to June 2021. A total of 361 children and their parents were enrolled in the study. The PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale was used to measure OHRQoL. Multivariate Tobit regression was used to determine factors associated with OHRQoL of children.Results The mean Oral PedsQOL score was 77.1 (SD = 17.6). Fathers’ high education and using milk daily (Coef. = 6.54, 95%CI = 1.91-11.16) were associated with higher OHRQoL. Meanwhile, a higher number of caries (Coef. = −0.73; 95%CI = −1.23; −0.23), a high frequency of experiencing bleeding gums, egg (Coef. = −5.76, 95%CI = −10.14; −1.38) and sweet food (Coef. = −4.94; 95%CI = −9.05; −0.83) as favorite foods were related to a lower OHRQoL. Children who brushed their teeth twice a day had a lower OHRQoL than those brushing once a day or less (Coef. = −4.40; 95%CI = −8.46; −0.34).Conclusion Preschoolers had moderate OHRQoL. Related factors include parental education, oral health and oral care behavior.KEYWORDS: Oral health-related quality of lifechildrenpreschoolcariestooth decay Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis research received no specific grant from any government, commercial, or non-profit funding body.Notes on contributorsThanh Nguyen HoangThanh Nguyen Hoang is a researcher and lecturer in Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam. His expertise focused on public health. He has published many articles in the areas of quality of life, public health, and mental health.Chieu Ha NgocChieu Ha Ngoc is a doctorate in dentistry and a lecturer with more than 10 years of experience in research on dentistry.Khoa Pham Tran AnhKhoa Pham Tran Anh is a master of dentistry, with many years of experience in maxillofacial research.Ngoc Tran NguyenNgoc Tran Nguyen is a PhD in Psychiatry, a lecturer with many years of experience in mental health research.Huong Nguyen MaiHuong Nguyen Mai is a clinician at Vietnam National Children's Hospital, a research expert in the field of children.Tan Pham HuyTan Pham Huy is a researcher at Hanoi Medical University Hospital.Trung Le HongTrung Le Hong is a researcher and specialist at Vinh Phuc Health Department Province, Vinh Phuc, Vietnam.Bang Pham NgocBang Pham Ngoc is a researcher at Vietnam Ministry of Health.Duc Hoang HuuDuc Hoang Huu is a researcher at Viet Duc Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.Vung Nguyen DangVung Nguyen Dang is Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Population and Reproductive Health, Hanoi Medical University, and Deputy Director of the School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Is an expert with many years of research experience in the field of the elderly.