Hubungan Tingkat Kepedulian Orang Tua terhadap Status Oral Hygiene Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus

Oral health problems among special needs children (SNC) is a priority and concern of all parties, both parents/caregivers, dentists and health policy makers both nationally and regionally as soon as possible. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of parental care and the oral hygiene of children at SLB Wacana Asih, Padang. This was an analytical and survey study with a cross-sectional design. Sampling was performed by using total sampling, consisting of parents of SNC and the SNC as many as 82 children. Data were analyzed using the Spearman Rank test with a significance level of p<0.05. The results showed that parent’s attention to the dental and oral hygiene of SNC was 53.66% in the good category and 46.445% in the moderate category. Furthermore, the results of the examination of the oral hygiene status of SNC showed various levels of status, as follows: good (45.1%), moderate (28%), and poor (26.8%). The statistical correlation test obtained a p-value of 0.000 which indicated that there was a significant relationship between parental care and the oral hygiene status of SNC with a correlation coefficient of r 0.699, which means a strong positive relationship. In conclusion, the higher the concern of parents, the better the oral hygiene status of special needs children.

Keywords: parental care; oral hygiene; special needs children