الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 121 |  |  |
| | | from | 121 | | |
Abstract
Pregnant women are subjected to natural hormonal, immunological, and vascular changes throughout their bodies which makes them vulnerable and susceptible to poor oral health. The most frequently cited changes in the literature are pyogenic granuloma, gingivitis, and periodontitis. In addition, a decrease in salivary pH is occasionally observed among pregnant women, and may thus lead to an increased incidence of dental caries. Various studies showed an association between gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW) and premature births.
The level of dental awareness and self-perception of her health needs as well as the pattern of dental service utilization of a pregnant woman all affect the sanitary condition of her own teeth and the health of the child to be born. Several studies proved serious disparities in maternal and child oral health outcomes among people of vulnerable and disadvantaged populations where knowledge and awareness were minimal. Baseline data that would help the development of programs and policies for improving women’s oral health, and thereby the health of their babies, justifies the need for research on health awareness and promotion of healthy behaviors among pregnant women.
A cross-sectional analytical study was, therefore, conducted on a sample of 381 pregnant women attending family health care facilities, in Alexandria governorate. Data were collected by a single trained examiner using a structured interview questionnaire to assess their self- perceived oral health status and needs, knowledge and behavior, as well as pattern of use of dental service during pregnancy. Interviews were conducted in the waiting areas while participants await their turns to be examined by the gynecologist. Patients’ consents were obtained verbally after explaining the aim of the study and confirming confidentiality of their response. In all the statistical analysis, a p value < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results revealed that around 76.64% of attendees were in the age range from (20–30 years), with the majority being between primary and secondary education (28.8% and 29.66% respectively) and 75.07% were house wives. Moreover, 53% were in their second trimester of pregnancy and 54.86% reported that their prenatal care payment system was the free governmental health care facilities while 40.94% sought private economical institutions.
Overall scores of individual self-perception towards oral health status revealed that over half of the participants had excellent self-perception (66.93%), (28.87%) had good self-perception, fair and poor self –perception both represented 2.100% only.
Regarding dental service utilization during current pregnancy, findings showed that almost half the participants (56.96%) had seen the dentist, where 65.90% sought the service as a compulsory procedure in their prenatal payment system routine, 32.26% felt trouble in their teeth and gums, while only 1.84% went for routine examination. On the other hand, 43.04% did not visit the dentist since the beginning of their pregnancy. Most of them said they had no dental problems (69.51%), others were afraid to go to the dentist or think it is not safe (22.56%), whereas 6.71% said that no one asked them to get a routine dental checkup.
Participants of age group 20-30 had the highest utilization rate with statistical significance (p=0.016). Most of the utilizers were found to be in their second trimester, with no systemic diseases and free governmental facility as a prenatal care payment system was found to be the most common amongst the participants. No significant difference, however, was detected regarding different levels of education and occupation as well as number of children.
Meanwhile, 63.13% of the utilizers had excellent self-perception and represented the majority, whereas minority of attendees were those who had shown either fair or poor self- perception of oral health status (92.76% and 1.84%, respectively), showing no statistical significance (p=0.227).
Finally, the study concluded that utilization of dental services during pregnancy was significantly influenced by demographic variables namely: age, pregnancy trimester, general health status and payment system of prenatal care. Moreover, influence of self-perception on dental service utilization was found to be a justified reason although not significant.