A Survey of the Oral Health Knowledge and Practices of Pregnant Women in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Adeniyi Abiola, Agbaje Olayinka, Braimoh Mathilda, Ogunbanjo Ogunbiyi Ogunbiyi, Sorunke Modupe, Onigbinde Olubunmi

Abstract

To describe the self-reported oral health knowledge, attitudes and oral hygiene habits, among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the Lagos State University teaching Hospital (LASUTH).  A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted at the LASUTH antenatal clinic during the period January – June 2008. Most of the respondents demonstrated a reasonable level of oral health knowledge and positive attitudes towards oral health. However, there were gaps in the oral health knowledge of the women surveyed. The relationship between the level of oral health knowledge and ethnicity (p=0.856), level of education (p=0.079), age category (p= 0.166), and trimester of pregnancy (p=0.219) were not statistically significant. In addition, the women’s knowledge and attitude towards oral health was not reflected in their oral hygiene practices. There is a need to provide oral health education for pregnant women during antenatal care in order to highlight the importance of good oral health in achieving good health for both the mother and her baby (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]:14-19)

 

Résumé

Enquête sur  la connaissance et les pratiques  de l’hygiène buccodentaire chez les femmes enceintes dans un Centre Hospitalier Universitaire nigérian. Cette enquête a pour objectif d’étudier la connaissance,  les attitudes de santé buccodentaire et les habitudes de l’hygiène buccodentaire auto-signalées par les femmes enceintes qui reçoivent les soins prénatals dans le Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de l’état de Lagos (LASUTH). Une enquête transversale, basée sur les questionnaires a été menée auprès de la clinique prénatale pendant la période entre janvier et juin 2008. La plupart des enquêtées ont fait preuve d’un bon niveau de connaissance de santé buccodentaire et des attitudes positives envers la santé buccodentaire.  Néanmoins, il y avait des vides par rapport à la connaissance de santé buccodentaire des femmes enquêtées.  Le rapport entre le niveau de connaissance de santé buccodentaire  et l’ethnicité (p=0,856), le niveau d’instruction (p=0,079), la catégorie d’âge (p=0,166), et le trimestre de grossesse (p=0,219) ont été statistiquement significatif.  De plus, la connaissance et l’attitude chez les femmes envers la santé buccodentaire n’étaient pas reflétés dans leurs pratiques de l’hygiène buccodentaire.  Il est nécessaire d’assurer l’éducation de santé buccodentaire pour les femmes enceintes pendantr les soins prénatals afin de souligner l’importance d’une bonne santé buccodentaire dans l’accomplissement d’une bonne santé à l’égard de la mère et l’enfant (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]: 1419)

 

  Keywords: Oral health, knowledge, attitudes, practices, pregnant women

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