Prevalence of dental anxiety and its relationship to socioeconomic factors among pregnant women from Joao Pessoa, Brazil

Abstract

Objectives: determine the prevalence and level of dental anxiety among pregnant women from Joao Pessoa, Brazil, and analyze its relationship to socioeconomic factors. Methods: the sample consisted of 360 pregnant women registered with Family Health Units in the city of Joao Pessoa, Brazil. The study was based on the Dental Anxiety Scale and a structured questionnaire through which socioeconomic factors were surveyed. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, with a significance of 5 %. Results: the prevalence of anxiety among pregnant women was 96.4%. Most (41,1 %) showed high anxiety levels (p 0,05). Conclusion: most women had high level anxiety. The socioeconomic factors studied did not show any association with the presence of anxiety. The study revealed the importance of dental care during pregnancy and the measures aimed at reducing dental anxiety.

Keywords

• embarazo
• ansiedad
• salud bucal
• salud de la familia
• factores socioeconómicos
• atención primaria de salud.