Family Characteristics on Self-Reported Toothache Among Indonesian Children Aged 12–14 Years

Abstract

Objective Toothache was reported as a reason for school absenteeism, sleeping difficulties, loss of appetite, and seeking dental treatment among children. These represented some impacts of dental problems on health, quality of life, and socioeconomic problems. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of toothache among 12–14-year-old children in Indonesia and their family characteristics and to analyze the associations of family characteristics on the toothache.

Methods We analyzed the data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey 5 in 2014–2015. A total of 2,377 children aged 12–14 years were included in this survey. This age is the early stage of eruption of all permanent teeth. Children were asked about their experience on toothache in the last 4 weeks as a dependent variable. The independent variables were the family socioeconomic characteristics including father's and mother's highest educational level, family income, and the number of children in the family. A logistic regression was applied to analyze the relationship of family characteristics with toothache experience of children.

Results Toothache experience was reported from 13.9% of the respondents. Descriptive statistics showed that higher percentages of toothache were experienced by male children and children from family with lower parental education and economic position as well as from bigger family. However, logistic regression showed that only the number of children in the family had a statistically positive association with self-reported toothache of the children. Children living in the family with more than four children were more likely reported toothache than living in the family with one or two children (P=0.012; odds ratio [OR]=1.53). Children living with more siblings may experience less attention from their parents on oral health hygiene. Poor oral health habits could result in dental pain.

Conclusions Descriptive statistics showed that a higher percentage of toothache was experienced by children from lower socioeconomic families, although the only significant association was the number of children in the family.