do maternal oral health-related self-efficacy and knowledge influence oral hygiene behavior of their children?

background this study aimed to assess the effects of maternal self-efficacy and oral health-related knowledge on pre-school children oral hygiene behavior. materials and methods this cross-sectional study was conducted on 301 mothers with children aged 2–6 years old randomly selection from health centers of tabriz, iran.  data were collected using self-report questionnaires including demographic characteristics, maternal self-efficacy, oral health-related knowledge, and children’s oral hygiene behavior. data were analyzed using spss 16 using one-way anova, independent samples t-test, and multiple linear regressions at 95% significant level. results the mean age of children was 4.1(standard deviation [sd] =1.4; range: 2–6 years). the mean score (sd) of children oral hygiene behavior was 5.4 (1.9). the mean score (sd) of mothers knowledge and self-efficacy were 4.9 (1.8) and 46.6 (14.8), respectively. 44.2% (133/301) of mothers had low self-efficacy and 55.8% (168/301) high self-efficacy. the children oral hygiene behavior was significantly and positively associated with maternal self-efficacy (r = 0.517, p < 0.001) and oral health-related knowledge (r = 0.363, p < 0.001). conclusion according to the results of this study, mothers’ self-efficacy and knowledge was the strongest predicator of children oral hygiene behavior. so, educational interventions to improve maternal self-efficacy and knowledge may be beneficial for children oral health habits.