Patient Preference and Adherence (May 2024)
Assessment of Oral Health Status and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women in Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Ghena Abdullah AlHumaid,1 Turki Alshehri,1 Razan Mohammed Alwalmani,1 Reema Mohammed Alsubaie,2 Abdulsalam Dhafer Alshehri,3 Eman Aljoghaiman,4 Balgis Gaffar4 1College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Balgis Gaffar, Preventive Dental Sciences, Division of Dental Public Health, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, B.O Box 1982, Dammam Costal Street, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966542269941 ; +966133331439, Email [email protected]: Pregnant women witness many changes in the body as well as in the oral cavity with many factors influencing these changes. This study evaluated the relationship between oral health status, perceptions, and pregnancy outcomes.Methods: A cross sectional study design was implemented to recruit a convenience sample of women attending Obstetrics and gynecology department in public hospitals in East and capital city of Saudi Arabia. To collect data, a validated self-administered questionnaire in English and Arabic was used. The questionnaire covered background information, perceived oral health status, and dental visits.Results: About 64.4% of the 481 women recruited had dental problems, 49.7% reported deterioration in their oral health during pregnancy, and 17.5% reported adverse pregnancy outcomes. Only 40.7% of pregnant women rated their oral health as good, and only 22% visited a dentist during their pregnancy. Dentists were the most common source of oral health information (44.1%), followed by social media (38.9%). Dental problems during pregnancy were significantly associated with adverse outcomes (P=0.007). Oral health perceptions of pregnant women, not visiting the dentist during pregnancy, and gingival problems were also significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (P=0.001). Those with fair to poor oral health were twice as likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcome. Those who intended to visit the dentist during their pregnancy but did not do so, as well as those who did not visit the dentist at all were 12 and 9 times more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes respectively.Conclusion: Dental complaints during pregnancy, oral health perceptions, and a lack of dental visits were all linked to increased likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need for interprofessional collaboration to dispel myths and encourage oral health care and regular dental visits during pregnancy.Keywords: oral health, pregnant women, adverse pregnancy outcomes, preterm, low birth weight
