Motivational Interviewing Prevents Early Childhood Caries, 228 Mother-Infant Pairs, Malaysia

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The Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in Preventing Early Childhood Caries Among Mothers of Infants in Terengganu.

N/A NCT07538219 Kind: NA Apr 20, 2026

Abstract

This study will be conducted in Ministry of Health (MOH) Maternal and Child Health Clinics (MCHCs) and MOH dental clinics in Setiu and Hulu Terengganu, selected for their similar sociodemographic characteristics. A two-arm, parallel cluster-randomized controlled trial (1:1 allocation) will be implemented, where the study group receives Anticipatory Guidance (AG) through Motivational Interviewing (MI), and the control group receives conventional MOH AG.

Mothers aged ≥18 years who can understand Bahasa Malaysia and their healthy 6-month-old infants (full-term, without congenital conditions) are eligible. Mothers with postpartum depression and infants requiring special oral healthcare are excluded. A total of 228 mother-infant pairs will be recruited using multistage sampling. Three MCHCs from Setiu and three randomly selected MCHCs from Hulu Terengganu will participate. Systematic sampling will be applied within each clinic.

Data collection occurs at infant ages 6, 9, and 12 months during routine immunization visits. At each visit, infants undergo oral examination using ICDAS and a caries risk assessment. Mothers complete age-specific validated questionnaires on knowledge and practices. The study group receives two MI sessions (at 6 and 9 months) with follow-up phone calls, while the control group receives routine AG by MOH staff.

The MI protocol will be developed based on established MI frameworks and be validated through expert review, will be pretested among mothers an...

Conditions: Healthy Women, Caries of Infancy

Interventions: Anticipatory Guidance Using Motivational Interviewing, Conventional Ministry of Health Anticipatory Guidance

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