2022, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp 420 – 424

Oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women in Deccan, South India: a cross-sectional prenatal survey

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Authors and Affiliations

Corresponding Author: Shahabe Abullais Saquib,Department of Periodontics and Community Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. E-mail: drsaquib24@gmail.com

Abstract

Pregnancy is a unique condition for women, associated with physiological and emotional changes in the body. Various research showed an association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Importance to hygiene maintenance should be given during pregnancy and improve the wellbeing of the mother and child. This study assessed oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices among pregnant women in Hyderabad. The study design was cross-sectional and included 445 women who responded and completed the survey. Subjects were selected using a random sampling technique in gynecology clinics. The questionnaire form consisted of four sections: demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene practice. Out of the 482 pregnant females invited to participate in the study, 445 women completed the survey, giving a response rate of 92%. The majority of women showed good knowledge and attitude regarding oral hygiene and its relation to pregnancy. However, the participants showed poor compliance with the recommended protocol. There are certain myths and barriers to dental treatment that need to be considered in the prenatal education of women. If explained by the gynecologist, the importance of oral health and its correlation with systemic health will play a crucial role in improving oral hygiene practice and regular dental visits.

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About this article

PMC ID: 9015187
PubMed ID: 35449998
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2019-0095

Article Publishing Date (print): 3 2022
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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