Oral health knowledge, literacy and behavior of pregnant women: a qualitative study in a northeastern province of Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a unique period of women's lives, and oral health is an important public health indicator during this period. Pregnant women have increased vulnerability to oral health problems. The study aimed to describe oral health knowledge, literacy and behavior of pregnant women in a northeastern province of Thailand. METHODS: A descriptive study was used. Twenty pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics of eight public hospitals in the province were recruited by use of purposive sampling. They participated voluntarily in individual interview. The Health Belief Model was used as conception framework. All data were transcribed and subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Five categories emerged: Misbelief and lack of knowledge, Oral health problems and dental care seeking, Oral health information from different persons, Self-care management of oral health, and Fear of and anxiety towards dental treatment. The findings showed that low knowledge of need for treatment, little importance to oral health and low priority of dental needs affect the demand for dental care. Fear of and anxiety towards dental treatment were the results of negative past experiences of neglecting dental care. Some women perceived health benefits of practicing self-care of oral health during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The findings help to better understand the oral health issues of pregnant women and provide baseline information for oral health promotion. Such promotion and culturally appropriate care should be integrated in maternal health education classes.

Factors associated with oral health care behaviors of pregnant women in a northeastern province in Thailand: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral healthcare behavior leads to oral health status. Factors associated with oral healthcare behavior might affect oral hygiene in pregnant women, who are at high risk for gingivitis and dental caries. This study aimed to explore factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors during pregnancy among pregnant women in a northeastern province of Thailand. METHOD: A total of 405 pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics at one of the government hospitals in the province were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Dentists in the hospitals measured pregnant women's gingivitis and dental calculus status using mouth mirrors and explorers. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain variables of interest. Linear regression analysis, Beta and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied. RESULTS: The majority were 20-24 years old (33.6%). Most of the participants had received upper secondary education (37.6%). Majority had gingivitis (88.1%) and dental calculus (88.6%). The findings revealed that age (Beta = -0.129, 95%CI = -0.269, -0.016), educational level (Beta = 0.118, 95% CI = 0.110, 0.183), and oral health literacy (Beta = 0.283, 95% CI = 0.156, 0.319) were statistically significant factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors. CONCLUSION: Younger pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors than older pregnant women and pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors due to higher educational levels and oral health literacy. Oral health promotion should be improved through oral health literacy, and interventions should be added to improve oral care skills particularly in older pregnant women as they are at a greater risk for poor oral healthcare behaviors.