Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among gynecologists regarding oral health of expectant mothers and infants in Bhubaneswar City, Odisha

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of prenatal care practitioners regarding oral health in pregnancy—A systematic review

“…Concerning their attitudes, 19,23,24,29,31–34,40 gynecologists and obstetricians presented an adequate attitude in 60.0% of the studies (6 out of 10 studies; Table S1), 19,23–25,28,32–34,37,38 contrasting with midwives (43.0%; 3 out of 7 studies; Table S3), 26,30,31,34,35,40,42 general physicians (0.0%; 0 out of 2 studies; Table S2), 25,26 and nurses (0.0%; 0 out of 4 studies; Table S4). 21,26,35,42 Regarding practices, these were only adequate in 25.0% of the studies evaluating gynecologists and obstetricians (2 out of 8 studies; Table S1), 19,24,25,28,32–34,37 17.0% of the studies evaluating midwives (1 out of 6 studies; Table S3), 26,30,31,34–36,39,40,42 33.0% of studies evaluating general practitioners (1 out of 3 studies; Table S2), 25,26,29 and 0.0% of the studies evaluating nurses (0 of 4 studies; Table S4). 21,26,35,42 Although the majority of PCP acknowledged the importance of oral health care during pregnancy, most professionals did not interview pregnant women on their oral health status and the reasons presented were lack of oral health training, the subject not being a priority, or because asking about oral health care was considered outside the scope and responsibility of PCP 21,29,38,42 .…”

“…In each of the included studies, the study population was mostly gynecologists/obstetricians ( n = 16), 19,20,22–25,27,28,32–34,36–39,41 but there were also studies including and/or focused on midwives ( n = 9), 26,30,31,34–36,39,40,42 general or family physicians/practitioners ( n = 5), 25,26,29,36,39 and nurses ( n = 4) 21,26,35,42 …”

“…The level of knowledge of PCP was adequate in 14 out of 24 studies, with the subgroup of gynecologists/obstetricians presenting adequate knowledge in 65.0% of the studies (10 out of 16 studies; Table S1), followed by general and family physicians (60.0%; 3 out of 5 studies; Table S2), midwifes (33.0%; 3 out of 9 studies; Table S3), and nurses (25.0%; 1 out of 4 studies; Table S4). 19,20,23–26,29,30,32,33,36,37,40,41 …”

“…All studies used questionnaires to characterize the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of PCP. The questionnaires implemented in the different studies varied in the number of questions (ranged from 15 21,36 to 82 questions 40 ), and the authors resorted to "Yes/ No" questions, 19,20,23,25,27,32,33,36,37,41,43 multiple-choice, 22,31 and Likert scales. 21,24,26,[28][29][30]34,37,38,40,42 All questionnaires were selfanswered, 10 of which were carried out online.…”

“…In each of the included studies, the study population was mostly gynecologists/obstetricians (n = 16), 19,20,[22][23][24][25]27,28,[32][33][34][36][37][38][39]41 but there were also studies including and/or focused on midwives (n = 9), 26,30,31,[34][35][36]39,40,42 general or family physicians/practitioners (n = 5), 25,26,29,36,39 and nurses (n = 4). 21,26,35,42 The level of knowledge of PCP was adequate in 14 out of 24 studies, with the subgroup of gynecologists/obstetricians presenting adequate knowledge in 65.0% of the studies (10 out of 16 studies; Table S1), followed by general and family physicians (60.0%; 3 out of 5 studies; Table S2), midwifes (33.0%; 3 out of 9 studies; Table S3), and nurses (25.0%; 1 out of 4 studies; Table S4)…”