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

Knowledge and Attitudes of Dental Students Towards Treatment of Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to address the barriers that pregnant women face when accessing oral health care, particularly due to the lack of confidence and knowledge among dental professionals. We focus on final-year Portuguese dental students, aiming to characterise their self-assessed knowledge and attitudes in providing care to pregnant women.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between March and April 2024, final-year dental students from all Portuguese dental faculties completed a 16-question web-based survey assessing their attitudes and knowledge regarding dental care for pregnant women.

RESULTS

Among 119 respondents, 98.3% emphasised the importance of dental check-ups during pregnancy, 79.8% were aware of periodontitis' adverse effects, and 75.6% identified the second trimester as optimal for dental visits. However, only 36.1% knew the correct position to prevent hypotension syndrome in the third trimester, and 37.8% were unsure about safe medications. Additionally, 92% supported integrating oral health education for pregnant women into the curriculum, with 95% believing it would increase their comfort in treating pregnant women.

CONCLUSION

The study reveals significant deficiencies in the knowledge and attitudes of Portuguese dental students regarding evidence-based dental care for pregnant women. This underscores the urgent need for improved dental education and training to ensure that these students are adequately prepared to provide care to pregnant women.

Oral healthcare access: self-perceived barriers faced during pregnancy - a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy encompasses physiological changes that impact oral health. Despite oral health care's importance, pregnant women underutilize these services due to various barriers. This systematic review aims to assess the self-reported barriers that hinder pregnant women's access to oral healthcare worldwide.

METHODS

The PRISMA checklist was followed and PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were screened for articles. The barriers that prevent pregnant women from accessing oral healthcare were analysed based on three dimensions - availability, affordability, and acceptability.

RESULTS

From a total of 942 articles, 31 were selected. The predominant barriers were the costs of dental care, lack of literacy, namely the misconception about dental care safety to the foetus, and limited oral health awareness.

CONCLUSION

Addressing these barriers requires a comprehensive policy framework and resource allocation, integrating oral health into perinatal care, and raising awareness among non-dental healthcare professionals.

Oral Health Care Among Women in Perimenopause or Menopause: An Integrative Review

INTRODUCTION

Women in menopause are at a higher risk of developing oral health problems, affecting their overall quality of life. Several studies have identified the role of health care providers in addressing women's oral health needs across various phases of their lives, yet a review in the area of perimenopause and menopause has not been undertaken. Therefore, the aim of this review was to explore current evidence regarding the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women in perimenopause or menopause and their health care providers. Additionally, guidelines and recommendations to inform strategies for oral health promotion are included.

METHODS

A systematic search was carried out across 5 databases. Inclusion criteria included articles published in English that examined at least one study outcome: oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of either women in perimenopause or menopause or of health care providers or guidelines around oral health care. Qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and experimental studies with survey components were included with no restrictions on publication period, quality, or setting.

RESULTS

A total of 12 articles met the inclusion criteria, with a majority being of poor quality and mostly from low-income and middle-income countries. Overall findings indicated that there was a lack of knowledge and limited practices in maintaining oral hygiene and visiting the dentist among women in perimenopause or menopause. Health care providers exhibited poor attitudes in advising the importance of periodic dental check-ups and informing oral health changes during this period. There were also insufficient guidelines to adopt care for women and guide health care providers in their practice.

DISCUSSION

Women in perimenopause or menopause have limited oral health knowledge and unmet oral health needs. Appropriate guidelines and supportive strategies are required to assist health care providers in providing comprehensive care and encouragement to women in perimenopause or menopause to improve their oral health.

Oral health among refugees and asylum seekers utilizing Médecins du Monde clinics in mainland Greece, 2016-2017

BACKGROUND

The oral health of refugees and asylum seekers is understudied. However, oral health has important implications for overall health and wellbeing. This study addresses this gap by characterizing oral health care utilization in Médecins du Monde (MdM) clinics across mainland Greece from 2016 - 2017.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used to estimate proportional morbidities for caries, extraction, developmental, periodontal disease, preventive, and other oral health outcomes. The association between physical health conditions and consultations of interest - upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and reproductive health consultations - and oral health were compared using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Oral health outcomes between Afghans and Syrians were compared using odds ratios and 95% CIs.

RESULTS

Caries (39.44%) and extractions (28.99%) were highly prevalent in our study population. The utilization of preventive dental consultations (37.10%) was high, particularly among males. Individuals with at least one upper respiratory tract infection (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.30 - 1.77; Or = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.53 - 2.36) and women and girls with reproductive health consultations (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.66; OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.49 - 2.76) were more likely to have any dental or caries specific consultations. The observed patterns in oral health needs differed between Afghans and Syrians, with Afghans more likely to have preventive screenings and less likely to have caries, extractions, or other conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Displaced populations utilizing MdM dental clinics had high levels of oral health needs, particularly for caries and extractions. The connection between oral and overall health was seen in the study population, and these findings reinforce the public health importance of oral health for improving health and wellbeing of displaced populations. Evidence-informed policy, practice, and programming inclusive of oral health are needed to address both oral and overall health of refugees and asylum seekers in Greece. Future research should investigate not only oral health care needs but also knowledge and beliefs that inform utilization patterns among displaced populations.

Knowledge and attitudes on oral health of women during pregnancy and their children: an online survey

BACKGROUND

Life-long healthy behaviors are established during pregnancy and the first years of life. In this cross-sectional survey, new mothers with a high level of schooling living in Northern Italy (Lombardy Region) were interviewed to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards their and child oral health.

METHODS

A questionnaire (27 items) was developed to assess socio-demographic factors, knowledge, and attitudes towards maternal and child oral health. The questionnaire was disseminated in perinatal courses, private gynecological clinics, and via social media. Mothers aged ≥18 years, with at least a child aged 0-36 months, with a high school diploma or higher, were included in the survey.

RESULTS

A total of 1340 women completed the questionnaire, 1297 of whom had a child aged 0-36 months, 792 lived in Lombardy, and 600 had a high level of education and were finally included. About half of the sample (44.67%) was aged between 31 and 35 years, 76.50% were employed, and the majority had only one child (81.50%). During pregnancy, 28.33% of the sample reported problems with teeth and gums, while only 36.00% visited a dentist. More than 40% of the sample said they were not aware of a possible link between oral health and pregnancy, and 73.17% had not received any advice about their oral health or the future health of their baby's mouth. Less than 20% of women were aware of the increased caries risk associated with prolonged or night-time breastfeeding. Better knowledge/attitude was associated with the age of the child (p < 0.05), the number of children (p < 0.05) and whether the mother had received advice during pregnancy (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this survey show a lack of dental care during pregnancy, a lack of information about oral health from health professionals during and after pregnancy, and consequently gaps in the knowledge needed to care for the oral health of the woman and her child. There is a need for training in oral health for pregnant women and new mothers, but also a need for behavioural change among health professionals who care for pregnant women.