Sociodemographic, Behavioral and Oral Health Factors in Maternal and Child Health: An Interventional and Associative Study from the Network Perspective

Abstract

Oral healthcare during pregnancy needs to be part of the assistance routine given to pregnant women by health professionals as a way to encourage self-care and strengthen the general health of the mother and the baby. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated oral healthcare intervention for pregnant women and to analyze the association of sociodemographic, behavioral, oral health and general maternal and child health factors in prenatal care at usual risk in primary care in a city in the northeast of Brazil, in 2018–2019. A controlled, randomized, single-blinded community trial was conducted. The intervention group (IG) received dental assistance and collective health education actions in conversation circles, while the control group (CG) received the usual assistance. All pregnant women (146 in total, 58 from IG and 88 from CG) that took part in the trial answered a questionnaire and underwent a dental examination at the beginning of prenatal care and at the puerperal visit. To assess the effect of the intervention, a network analysis was used. The results have shown that being in the control group was associated with neonatal complications (0.89) and prematurity (0.54); the use of tobacco and alcohol are associated with high risk in initial and final oral health; lower educational level of the pregnant women implicates high risk for initial oral health (−0.19), final oral health (−0.26), pregnancy complications (−0.13), low birth weight (−0.23), prematurity (−0.19) and complications in the newborn (−0.14). Having a low family income (≤261.36 USD) has shown a high risk for initial oral health (−0.14), final oral health (−0.20) and prematurity (−0.15). The intervention based on integrated oral healthcare for pregnant women indicated that socioeconomic and behavioral factors must be considered as determinants for the quality of women and children’s health and that multi-professional performance during prenatal care contributes to the positive outcomes of pregnancy.

Oral health‐related quality of life among women early postpartum: A cross‐sectional study

“…This study highlights that health services planning that aim to provide improvements in the oral health of postpartum women/new mothers, should be prioritized to improve their oral health related quality of life. Since maternal sociodemographic characteristics can impact the OHRQoL of mothers, these sociodemographic factors should be considered in the planning of oral health actions and programs for postpartum women including needs assessments, the delivery of dental care services, an increase in the access to dental care, and the delivery of oral health education sessions and preventive services 20,30 . Our findings could also aid policymakers in defining new research areas with a focus on improving the OHRQoL of new mothers and implementing novel and effective strategies for the delivery of oral healthcare including preventive strategies that are required to maintain good levels of oral health and wellbeing before and during the postpartum period.…”

Oral Health Behaviours, Knowledge, and Literacy of Expectant Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study among Maternity Ward Patients

“…Hence, if the participants sometimes failed to do that, it might be because of poor awareness of what it actually means to be under dental care and what kinds of services this care provides to expectant mothers. Another reason might be the fact that women who rely on the internet as their main source of OH information have certain misconceptions and fears of risks connected with using dental services during pregnancy [ 73 , 74 , 75 ], which is why they might be reluctant to use them often enough. Whichever of these reasons holds true, it points to the need for improving OH literacy among pregnant women.…”

Impacto do pré-natal odontológico na saúde materno-infantil: uma revisão integrativa

“…Além de afetar o desenvolvimento de lesões de cáries, muitos estudos analisam que o acometimento de doenças bucais nas gestantes está associado ao aumento da frequência de adversidades durante o parto, em especial a ocorrência de partos prematuros, quando a gestação tem menos de <37 semanas, e de crianças com baixo peso ao nascer, quando elas pesam menos de 2500g. Dessa forma, Fagundes et al, 2014e Sampaio et al, 2021 confirmaram que a condução inadequada e a ausência de intervenções odontológicas durante o pré-natal aumentaram as chances de ocorrência de nascimentos prematuros e de baixo peso. Também demonstraram que a presença dessas adversidades pré-natais tem influência de outros fatores como a baixa renda socioeconômica, uso de álcool e cigarros e o baixo índice de massa corporal da mãe antes do parto, sendo este último fator responsável por aumentar em quase três vezes as chances de nascimentos de baixo peso.…”

“…George et al, 2018 avaliaram um programa de serviço de saúde buco-odontológica na obstetrícia afim de determinar a sua eficácia na melhoria do conhecimento acerca da saúde bucal e do estado de saúde bucal das gestantes, comparado aos filhos das mães que não realizaram o pré-natal.Recentemente,Sampaio et al, 2021 avaliaram de uma abordagem integrada em saúde oral durante a gestação como fator contribuinte na saúde oral materno-infantil, juntamente aos demais fatores que influenciam nesse binômio da saúde. As análises mostraram que as grávidas que não participaram das intervenções em saúde oral durante a gravidez tiveram maiores frequências de complicações maternas e com o bebê, bem como prematuridade e baixo peso ao nascimento.…”