Maternal intentions and knowledge in the postpartum regarding the feeding habits and oral health of children

The aim of the present study was to analyze the intentions and knowledge of mothers in the postpartum period regarding the feeding habits and oral health of their children. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 286 mothers at a teaching hospital in Southern Brazil. The variables of interest were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Knowledge scores were analyzed numerically and dichotomized as adequate (score: >5) or poor (score: ≤5). Bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses were performed and score ratios (SR) with respective confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Most respondents were less than 25 years of age (55.6%), first-time mothers (56.4%) and demonstrated positive intentions regarding the majority of the aspects addressed. However, 65.4% of the sample demonstrated poor knowledge. Younger mothers, those with a lower income, those with less schooling, first-timers and those who reported intending to use sugar demonstrated less knowledge. Gathering information from the internet was associated with higher knowledge. The multivariate model revealed significant associations with having a university education (SR=1.23; CI: 1.12 to 1.35), having a high school education (SR=1.10; CI: 1.03 to 1.19), gathering information from the internet (SR=1.18; CI: 1.07 to 1.30), having given birth more than once (SR=1.13; CI: 1.06 to 1.21) and intending not to use sugar (SR=1.14; CI: 1.03 to 1.26). Schooling, number of child births, means of information and the use of sugar were independently associated with the knowledge score. There is a need to provide oral health education for women during the postpartum period in order to benefit oral health for both the mother and the baby.   Key words: Feeding behavior, infant, knowledge, mothers, oral health, postpartum period.