Knowledge, attitude, and practice of antenatal care providers about oral health care for pregnant women: a cross-sectional survey study in Shanghai.

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs), nurses, and family physicians regarding oral healthcare for pregnant women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China, using an electronic questionnaire distributed to 770 OB-GYNs, obstetrics/gynecology nurses, and family physicians in Huangpu District.

RESULTS

The 459 respondents (59.6% response rate) showed suboptimal knowledge, especially about medication and fluoride safety during pregnancy, and inconsistent oral health practices such as infrequent fluoride toothpaste recommendations and limited comprehensive counseling, despite generally positive attitudes toward integrating oral care into routine antenatal services. Over 80% of OB-GYNs and family physicians reported routinely giving oral health advice, and over 82% of nurses and family physicians advised on specific hygiene practices, such as brushing and rinsing. A key finding was that a minority of participants across all professions (19.2-34.5%) considered oral care solely the duty of dentists.

CONCLUSION

This study identified knowledge gaps and limitations in specific oral health practices among antenatal care providers in Shanghai, especially among non-OB-GYN providers, despite generally positive attitudes. These findings indicate that strengthening providers' knowledge and selected practice behaviors may be necessary to better support perinatal oral health services.