Effectiveness of Strengthened Anticipatory Guidance Used in the MOH Malaysia Infant Oral Health Care Programme

The Effectiveness of Strengthened Anticipatory Guidance Used in the Ministry of Health Malaysia Infant Oral Health Care Programme: A Cluster Randomised Control Trial

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of strengthened anticipatory guidance (AG) used in MOH Malaysia Infant Oral Healthcare Programme in preventing early childhood caries (ECC) lesions and improving caries risk of infants in Negeri Sembilan and their primary caregiver's knowledge and practice on infant oral healthcare

This randomised control trial study will be conducted at six government Maternal and Child Health Clinics (MCHCs) in Negeri Sembilan District, Malaysia. The samples comprised of 220 primary caregivers-infant pairs (110 pairs in the intervention group, and 110 pairs in the control group). A strengthened infant oral health module named the Oral Health Infant Module Anticipatory Guidance (OHIM AG) was designed to provide anticipatory guidance to the intervention group at three-month intervals over 6 months. The control group will receive the conventional Ministry of Health Anticipatory Guidance (MOH AG). The effectiveness of OHIM AG on early signs of childhood caries lesions development, caries risk of infants, and primary caregivers's knowledge and practice on infant oral healthcare will be assessed after six months of intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The infant and primary caregivers (parents/ caregivers) are a Malaysian citizen
• Primary caregivers can read and understand Bahasa Malaysia. This is because the AG will be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia, and the questionnaires are also in Bahasa Malaysia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infants with special needs, chronic diseases or conditions (e.g., stunting, failure to thrive and low birth weight) who are at risk for oral problems (e.g., higher risk of caries due to presence of hypomineralisation and hyperplasia) and require special oral health care.