Self-reported oral hygiene habits, dental attendance and attitudes to dentistry during pregnancy in a sample of immigrant women in North London.

By:

Hullah, E

Contributor(s):

Publication details: 2008ISSN:

09320067

Uniform titles:

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Online resources:

Summary: AIM:The aim of this study was to describe self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, frequency of visits to a dentist and factors associated with dental attendance among pregnant women at a North London Hospital, the majority of whom are immigrants.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">BACKGROUND:</h4>Peridontal disease is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study is to describe self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, frequency of visits to a dentist and factors associated withdental attendance among pregnant women at a North London Hospital, the majority of whom are immigrants.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">MATERIALS AND METHODS:</h4>A questionnaire designed by the authors was completed by postnatal women within 3 days of delivery. Data collected included past dental attendance, reasons for attendance and information about age, parity and socio-economic group.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">RESULTS:</h4>In total, 206 women completed the questionnaires within 3 days of delivery; 74.2% of the mothers were not born in the UK and 38.3% were Black African. The mean age of was 28.19 +/- 6.07 years. The majority reported good oral hygienehabits such as brushing their teeth twice a day (73.7%) and using mouthwash (51%). However, their dental attendance was poor and the average time since their last visit to a dentist was 1.8 +/- 1.61 years. Over a third of the women questioned did not know about the availability of free dental care during pregnancy and for 12 months after; 33% visited a dentist in pregnancyand half of them needed and received treatment; 15% of mothers had more than one pregnancy and yet were still unaware of free dental care provided during pregnancy and 12 months after birth. Only 36% of questioned women regularly visited a dentist. Pregnancy did little to change their attitudes to dental care. There appears no difference in attitudes to dental care between immigrant and British born pregnant women.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">CONCLUSION:</h4>Efforts to improve the uptake of dental care should be directed towards immigrant groups in order to promote better maternal health. Further research is required into the provision of dental care during pregnancy, as the high level of non-attendance demonstrated by mothers is undesirable.

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Book	Ferriman information and Library Service (North Middlesex) Shelves	Staff publications for NMDX		Available

NMUH Staff Publications

277

AIM:The aim of this study was to describe&nbsp;self-reported&nbsp;oral&nbsp;health,&nbsp;oral&nbsp;hygiene&nbsp;habits, frequency of visits to a dentist and factors associated with&nbsp;dental&nbsp;attendance&nbsp;among pregnant&nbsp;women&nbsp;at a&nbsp;North&nbsp;London&nbsp;Hospital, the majority of whom are immigrants.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">BACKGROUND:</h4>Peridontal disease is associated with an increased risk of adverse&nbsp;pregnancy&nbsp;outcomes. The aim of this study is to describe&nbsp;self-reported&nbsp;oral&nbsp;health,&nbsp;oral&nbsp;hygiene&nbsp;habits, frequency of visits to a dentist and factors associated withdental&nbsp;attendance&nbsp;among pregnant&nbsp;women&nbsp;at a&nbsp;North&nbsp;London&nbsp;Hospital, the majority of whom are immigrants.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">MATERIALS AND METHODS:</h4>A questionnaire designed by the authors was completed by postnatal&nbsp;women&nbsp;within 3 days of delivery. Data collected included past&nbsp;dental&nbsp;attendance, reasons for&nbsp;attendance&nbsp;and information about age, parity and socio-economic group.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">RESULTS:</h4>In total, 206&nbsp;women&nbsp;completed the questionnaires within 3 days of delivery; 74.2% of the mothers were not born in the UK and 38.3% were Black African. The mean age of was 28.19 +/- 6.07 years. The majority reported good&nbsp;oral&nbsp;hygienehabits&nbsp;such as brushing their teeth twice a day (73.7%) and using mouthwash (51%). However, their&nbsp;dental&nbsp;attendance&nbsp;was poor and the average time since their last visit to a dentist was 1.8 +/- 1.61 years. Over a third of the&nbsp;women&nbsp;questioned did not know about the availability of free&nbsp;dental&nbsp;care during&nbsp;pregnancy&nbsp;and for 12 months after; 33% visited a dentist in&nbsp;pregnancyand half of them needed and received treatment; 15% of mothers had more than one&nbsp;pregnancy&nbsp;and yet were still unaware of free&nbsp;dental&nbsp;care provided during&nbsp;pregnancy&nbsp;and 12 months after birth. Only 36% of questioned&nbsp;women&nbsp;regularly visited a dentist.&nbsp;Pregnancy&nbsp;did little to change their&nbsp;attitudes&nbsp;to&nbsp;dental&nbsp;care. There appears no difference in&nbsp;attitudes&nbsp;to&nbsp;dental&nbsp;care between&nbsp;immigrant&nbsp;and British born pregnant&nbsp;women.<h4 style="margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; float: left; line-height: 17.999801635742188px;">CONCLUSION:</h4>Efforts to improve the uptake of&nbsp;dental&nbsp;care should be directed towards&nbsp;immigrant&nbsp;groups in order to promote better maternal health. Further research is required into the provision of&nbsp;dental&nbsp;care during&nbsp;pregnancy, as the high level of non-attendance&nbsp;demonstrated by mothers is undesirable.

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