Association between knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral health and the presence of caries and periodontitis in women with high-risk pregnancies: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between socioeconomic factors; gestational factors; and knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to maternal and child oral health (MCOH) and the presence of periodontal disease and caries in women with high-risk pregnancies. A total of 135 women (mean [SD] age: 27.4 [6.7] years) with high-risk pregnancies were interviewed regarding their knowledge about MCOH in 2 domains: oral health and breastfeeding. The variables collected included education level, oral hygiene practices, diet, frequency of dental visits, and fear that dental treatment might harm the baby. Multiple regression models were applied (P < 0.05). In general, study participants had more than 9 years of schooling (57.8%), visited the dentist at least once a year (68.9%), consumed sweets up to 3 times a day (54.8%), were not afraid that dental treatment might pose a risk to the baby (77.8%), and had periodontal disease (79.0%). The mean (SD) number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth in 113 participants who underwent caries examinations was 8.50 (5.38). Women with lower levels of education had more decayed teeth (P = 0.017). Among 81 women who underwent periodontal examinations, those who visited the dentist at least 3 times a year had significantly higher probing depths and clinical attachment loss (P < 0.05). The mean (SD) total knowledge score was 1.87 (2.09), comprising 0.84 (1.55) in the oral hygiene domain and 1.03 (1.20) in the breastfeeding domain. Pregnant women who were older than 27 years (P = 0.004) and those who received oral hygiene instructions (P = 0.028) had higher total knowledge scores. Knowledge of oral hygiene was not associated with periodontal disease (P = 0.855) or caries (P = 0.838). Participants had low levels of knowledge about MCOH, but the oral hygiene knowledge score was not associated with periodontitis or caries.