Background: Oral health of women during pregnancy is an important issue. Not only it can compromise pregnancy outcomes, but also it may affect their newborn's overall health. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status and associated factors in pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 407 pregnant women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy in Varamin, Iran. Oral health status was examined, and demographic, socioeconomic status and dental care behavior data were collected. Oral health indices included periodontal pocket, bleeding on probing (BOP) and decayed, missed, filled teeth (DMFT). Regression analysis of DMFT was used to study the association between demographic, dental care behaviors indicators and outcome variables using the count ratios (CR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The mean (SD, Standard Deviation) age of participants was 27.35 (5.57). Daily brushing, flossing habit were observed in 64.1, and 20.6% of mothers, respectively. Mean (SD) of DMFT, D, M, F were 10.34(5.10), 6.94(4.40), 2.22 (2.68) and 1.19(2.23), respectively. Women older than 35 years had significantly more DMFT [CR = 1.35 (95% CI 1.13; 1.60)], less D [CR = 0.75 (95% CI 0.59; 0.94)], and more M [CR = 3.63 (95% CI 2.57; 5.14)] compared to women under 25 years after controlling for education and dental care behaviors. Women with academic education had significantly less decayed teeth [CR = 0.63 (95% CI 0.48; 0.84)], compared to women with under 12 years of education. Conclusions: Oral health status of pregnant women was not satisfactory, having an average of seven decayed teeth in their mouth.

Early-life relative poverty is associated with more frequent dental pain across the 14-year follow up and may be a key exposure variable for later dental conditions.

Knowledge about oral cancer risk factors and signs is thought to improve prevention and early diagnosis, and in turn, increases survival. In this population-based survey, knowledge about oral cancer was assessed in Iran. A total of 1800 self-administered questionnaires (collecting sociodemographic data and questions regarding oral cancer risk factors and signs) were distributed through random sampling. Final scores ranged between 0 and 15 for the risk factors and 0-11 for the signs. Scores below the median indicated a low level of knowledge, scores representing the third quartile of correct answers indicated a moderate level of knowledge, and scores representing the upper quartile indicated a high level of knowledge. Statistical tests were used for analysis of knowledge level in different sociodemographic categories. A total of 1312 participants completed the questionnaires. The average of knowledge scores for risk factors was 5.3 ± 3.0 and for signs was 4.5 ± 2.9. Overall, 75 and 56% respectively were able to identify major risk factors (smoking and alcohol); 23.5% could not define any related signs and symptoms. Dividing scores into quartiles indicated that three out of four people had "low" knowledge about risk factors and 58% had "low" knowledge about signs and symptoms. Females and highly educated people had more knowledge of oral cancer. Significant difference was found between job and level of knowledge (P = 0.001). This survey revealed that public knowledge of oral cancer was not satisfactory in Iran. Efforts should be done to inform and educate people with risk factors, initial clinical presentation, and symptoms, in order to improve prevention and promote early diagnosis.

Although DCBs were associated with both SES and NRET, they could only be partially accountable for the observed socioeconomic inequalities in NRET.

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Les obstacles à l'intégration de la santé bucco-dentaire aux soins de santé primaires RÉSUMÉ Les services de soins de santé primaires en République islamique d'Iran sont parvenus avec succès à traiter le nombre élevé de cas de maladies transmissibles. Néanmoins, il semblerait qu'ils soient moins performants dans la prise en charge des maladies bucco-dentaires de la mère et de l'enfant. La présente étude avait pour objectif d'examiner les obstacles à l'intégration de la santé bucco-dentaire aux services de soins de santé primaires. Il s'agissait d'une étude de recherche qualitative comprenant des groupes de discussion et des entretiens. Cinq groupes de discussion ont été tenus. Il réunissaient des sages-femmes, des médecins de famille, des agents de soins de santé primaires en milieu rural, des dentistes suppléants, et des dentistes en santé publique. Des entretiens individuels ont également été organisés avec des experts membres du corps enseignant des domaines concernés, des gestionnaires en charge de la planification et de la coordination et des responsables politiques. D'autre part, des entretiens approfondis ont été menés auprès de femmes enceintes dans quatre établissements de soins de santé primaires. Des cassettes audio ont été retranscrites à la suite de chaque session, et une analyse thématique qualitative a été menée sur les données recueillies. L'analyse des données a fait ressortir quatre types de problèmes principaux liés à des facteurs d'ordre environnemental et organisationnel, et concernant la formation des praticiens et les programmes scolaires. La présente étude permet une compréhension plus détaillée des obstacles à l'intégration des services de santé bucco-dentaires aux soins de santé primaires. ABSTRACT The primary healthcare (PHC) services in the Islamic Republic of Iran have succeeded in addressing high levels of communicable diseases; however, they seem less able to deal with maternal and paediatric oral diseases. The aim of this study was to examine problems in integrating oral health services into PHC. This was a qualitative research study comprising focus group discussions and interviews. Five focus-group discussions were held with midwives, family healthcare practitioners, rural PHC workers, duty-service dentists, and public health dentists. Also, individual interviews were organized with experts of faculty members in related fields, informant managers and policy makers, and in-depth interviews were done with pregnant women in four PHC centres. Audiotapes were transcribed following each session, and then a qualitative thematic analysis was carried out on gathered data. Data analysis resulted in 4 main themes relating to the challenges: environmental, educational, organizational and school-based programme factors. This study provides a clearer understanding of the challenges of integrating oral health services into PHC. ‫األولية‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫الرعاية‬ ‫يف‬ ‫الفم‬ ‫صحة‬ ‫إدماج‬ ‫تعوق‬ ‫التي‬ ‫التحديات‬