The Oral Health Knowledge and Self-care Practices of Pregnant Women in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background. Pregnancy is a unique time in a woman's life and is characterized by complex physiological changes. These changes can adversely affect oral health. Oral health is a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases, and disorders that affect the oral cavity. Risk factors for oral diseases include unhealthy diet, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, and poor oral hygiene (WHO). Multiple studies have shown an association between periodontal infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as premature delivery and low birth weight. Aim of this study assess women's knowledge towards oral and dental health during pregnancy and to examine their self-care practices in relation to oral and dental health. Methodology The research will be conducted at randomly governmental primary health care centers and schools in Riyadh (Dawadmi region). A Quantitative Descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. two-hundred Saudi pregnant women selected randomly. Women who gave informed consent were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire and return it to the researcher A Structured questionnaire will be developed consisted of three parts, Demographic characteristics part, level of women`s Knowledge regarding oral health part & Self-care practice regard oral health care. Results, Conclusion & Recommendation. Age of participant women's between 28-38 years (43.2%). Most of the participants had number of pregnancies between 4-6 (38.5 %). Regarding the level of knowledge about oral health, this study showed that 45% of mother had poor knowledge, and there is a significant relationship between the level of practice and the educational, professional status and attendance to antenatal clinic, which was started by 65% of the sample on time, however, they did not visit the dentist. This study recommends that the implementation of oral health programs in prenatal services is essential to delivery of dental care and decreasing the potential oral problems among pregnant women, as well as conducting careful screening of oral risks, and assisting women in obtaining regular dental care.

Oral health care practice of women with pregnancy experience

“…This amount showed that pregnant women who did not have a dental examination was higher than those who had an examination. This result was almost the same as with the research conducted by Moawed et al 6 which stated that as many as 65% of pregnant women did not go to the dentist.…”

“…7 The results of the present study indicated that recommendation of oral health programs in prenatal services is essential to the delivery of dental care and decreasing the potential oral problems among pregnant women, as well as conducting a careful initial screening of oral risks, and assisting women in obtaining regular dental care. 6 As many as 83.72% of 129 pregnant women go to the dentist purely because of their own's will, while only very few of them get direction from their family (Table 3). These results were slightly different from the research conducted by Karasu et al 8 which stated that during their pregnancy.…”

The Role of Oral and Prenatal Healthcare Providers in the Promotion of Oral Health for Pregnant Women

“…In Saudi Arabia, the delivery of health services is supervised and nanced by the Ministry of Health [MOH] and oral healthcare is integrated into prenatal care [22]. Nonetheless, more than half of the pregnant women in Saudi Arabia completely avoid dental care during pregnancy and most access dental care only when they have toothache or bleeding gums [11,[13][14][15][16]23]. The most reported barriers to the utilization of dental care during pregnancy were low awareness of the importance of oral healthcare, negative perceptions regarding the safety of dental treatment, and lack of perceived need for dental care [11,14,16,[23][24].…”

The Role of Oral and Prenatal Healthcare Providers in the Promotion of Oral Health for Pregnant Women

“…In Saudi Arabia, 70-90% of pregnant women have at least one dental problem [13][14]. Periodontal disease was the most (30-60%) prevalent dental problem, followed by dental caries and toothache [30-40%] [13,[15][16]. Periodontal disease during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight [17][18].…”

“…In Saudi Arabia, the delivery of health services is supervised and nanced by the Ministry of Health, and oral healthcare is integrated into prenatal care [22]. Nonetheless, more than half of the pregnant women in Saudi Arabia completely avoid dental care during pregnancy, and most access dental care only when they have toothache or bleeding gums [11,[13][14][15][16]23]. The most reported barriers to the utilization of dental care during pregnancy were low awareness of the importance of oral healthcare, negative perceptions regarding the safety of dental treatment, and lack of perceived need for dental care [11,14,16,[23][24].…”