Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Spanish Midwives and Midwifery Students toward Oral Healthcare during Pregnancy

Pregnancy can affect the mother's oral health, increasing their susceptibility to oral diseases that have been associated with harmful effects on the newborn. Despite the severity of oral diseases during pregnancy, the demand for dental care during the gestational period is low, which may impro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-06, Vol.18 (11), p.6089
Main Authors: Touriño, Sara, Suárez-Cotelo, María Del Carmen, Núñez-Iglesias, María Jesús, Domínguez-Martís, Eva María, Mosteiro-Miguéns, Diego Gabriel, López-Ares, David, Novío, Silvia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Attitudes
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dental care
Dental caries
Design
Employment
Female
Health care
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health promotion
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Knowledge
Likert scale
Male
Midwifery
Oral diseases
Oral Health
Oral hygiene
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy
Questionnaires
Sociodemographics
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Variables
Womens health
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Summary:Pregnancy can affect the mother's oral health, increasing their susceptibility to oral diseases that have been associated with harmful effects on the newborn. Despite the severity of oral diseases during pregnancy, the demand for dental care during the gestational period is low, which may improve with the participation of midwives in promoting oral health activities. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Spanish midwives and midwifery students regarding oral health in pregnant women; and (ii) to identify the barriers faced by these healthcare professionals in addressing oral health promotion during pregnancy. An observational cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. A total of 128 midwives and/or midwifery students ≥ 18 years old and of both sexes were invited to self-complete a questionnaire between January and April 2020. A total of 85 people participated in the study. Participants had a regular level of knowledge about oral health during pregnancy (overall knowledge score: 6.53), and although they were interested in activities that promote oral healthcare, their oral healthcare practices during pregnancy were limited. As midwives play an important role in promoting health, their training in oral healthcare could help to improve pregnant women's oral health.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18116089