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Maternal Knowledge of Oral Health During Pregnancy and Childbirth

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Abstract

Objective

This cohort study was to investigate maternal knowledge of the oral health of woman and children during pregnancy and after childbirth, and the associated factors.

Methods

Groups of women participating in a public prenatal dental care programme in Brazil were assessed, in two different stages. In the first stage, pregnant women were assessed for their own oral health. In the second stage, after childbirth, women were assessed for the oral health of their child. The examiner assigned a maternal knowledge score to the questionnaires, considering the ideal alternatives within the context of oral health promotion as correct answers. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis and multiple linear regression tests, considering a level of significance of P < 0.05.

Results

Ninety-eight women were included in the study, with a mean age 26.27 years (SD 6.51). In the regression analysis, the maternal knowledge score was associated with the presence of myths about oral health (P < 0.01), the children first dental appointment in the first year of life (P = 0.07), the presence of a non-nutritious sucking habit (P < 0.01), considering dental treatment to be important during pregnancy (P < 0.01), and having been instructed on oral health during pregnancy (P < 0.01) and after the children birth (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

This study suggests that the women showed a regular score of knowledge about their oral health and that of their children, as they still believed in some myths about oral health and the risks of dental treatment during pregnancy. Women who received guidance on oral health in pregnancy and after birth showed higher knowledge of their oral health and that of their children, demonstrating the importance of carrying out health promotion actions during pregnancy and the first years of the child’s life.

Significance

The importance of oral health during pregnancy for women’s health and preventive actions for the control of oral diseases in childhood is well established in the literature. However, even with significant advances in this regard, early childhood caries remain prevalent. During the first years of life, the child is highly dependent on maternal care. Therefore, there is essential to understand maternal knowledge about their own oral health and that of their children, to better target public prevention actions.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the availability and participation of women in this study.

Funding

The authors declare having no funding for the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Mariane Carolina Faria Barbosa

  2. Dental School, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), Alfenas, MG, Brazil

    Heloísa de Souza Gomes Rodrigues, Daniela Silva Barroso de Oliveira, Leandro Araújo Fernandes & Daniela Coelho de Lima

  3. Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Najara Barbosa da Rocha

  4. Dental School, Federal University of Alfenas – UNIFAL, Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 700, Centro, Alfenas, MG, 37130-001, Brazil

    Daniela Coelho de Lima

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  1. Mariane Carolina Faria Barbosa
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Contributions

MCFB participated in the collection/interpretation of the data. DSBO and NBR participated in the interpretation of the data and performed the statistical analysis. LAF and DCL contributed to the conception and design of the study. MCFB, NBR, DSBO., HSGR, and DCL wrote/critically revised the manuscript. All authors revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Coelho de Lima.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare having no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

The present study received approval from the institutional review board of Universidade Federal de Alfenas (certificate number: 20021613.7.0000.5142).

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Participation in the study, as well as the publication of research data in scientific articles, was voluntary and authorised through free and informed consent term.

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Barbosa, M.C.F., da Rocha, N.B., de Souza Gomes Rodrigues, H. et al. Maternal Knowledge of Oral Health During Pregnancy and Childbirth. Matern Child Health J 27, 1607–1615 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-023-03697-2

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