Dental caries experience and associated risk indicators among Palestinian pregnant women in the Jerusalem area: a crosssectional study
Date
2018-10-22
Authors
Kateeb, Elham
Momany, Elizabeth
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Background: This study described the dental caries experience of Palestinian pregnant women and examined its
relationships to their oral health knowledge, beliefs, behavior, and access to dental care.
Methods: Pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the Ministry of Health (MOH) centers in the Jerusalem
Governorate were invited to participate in this study. Structured interviews were conducted to assess pregnant
mothers’ beliefs about oral health care and their oral hygiene practices. Screening for mothers’ dental caries
experience was carried out using the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth/Surfaces (DMFT/S) index. Univariate,
bi-variate and multi-variable analysis were conducted to explain the high level of disease in this population.
Results: A total of 152 pregnant women participated in this study. Mean DMFT in this sample was 15.5 ± 4.5 and
an average DMFS of 31.8 ± 21. According the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, 89% of our sample were
categorized in the “Extremely High” dental caries experience. Fifty-eight percent of the DMFT scores among this
sample were due to untreated dental decay, while 22% of the same DMFT scores demonstrated restorative care
received by this sample. Bivariate analysis showed that mothers who completed a degree after high school had
lower DMFT scores than mothers who did not (F = 4, n = 152, p = .024). In addition, mothers who believed they
could lose a tooth just because they are pregnant had higher DMFT scores (t = − 4, n = 152, p = .037). The final
model found that age, level of education, providers’ advice on utilizing dental care during pregnancy, and the
belief that a woman can lose a tooth just because she is pregnant explained 22% of the variation in DMFT scores.
Conclusions: Women in this study had a high prevalence of dental diseases and knew little about dental care
during pregnancy. Faulty beliefs about dental care during pregnancy among women and health care providers
were major factors in the high levels of disease.
Description
Keywords
Access to care , Pregnant, , Dental caries , Beliefs , Attitude , Knowledge